St. Petersburg - Post Report Question and Answers
Are there any particular health concerns? What is the quality of available medical care? What medical conditions typically require medical evacuation?
SAD is an issue here with the super-long, gray winters. St. Petersburg definitely lacks sun. Vitamin D deficiency is also prevalent (take a supplement). The med unit issues SAD lamps. Also respiratory issues are frequent here with the pollution. Medical evacuations, if necessary, are usually to Helsinki or London. There are visits from the US doctors posted in Moscow on a regular basis. The health unit at the consulate is staffed by a local doctor and nurse. - Apr 2017
We were fortunate to never need emergency medical care. Co-workers left town to have babies. - Feb 2016
There are high TB-HIV rates here. The water isn't safe or good to drink, but we have filters at home and bottled water at work and in restaurants. You don't have to wash produce with bleach water, but do need to wash it as you would in the US. Be careful when buying meat/fish - go to larger grocery stores and always check expiration dates - even though they are sometimes altered. There are three medical clinics where Americans/expats can go, although if I had any major issues I would not want to go to a local hospital - I would insist on going to Helsinki for treatment! Russian doctors are highly skilled, but nursing care is scary and most care usually involves bribes if you want good care, or someone from the diplomatic community to constantly monitor the quality of care you get. - Aug 2011
