Mumbai - 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?
As with many places, most of us encounter some stomach issues due to food/water. I eat some street food that is fried/reputable but avoid anything that contains water or raw veggies/fruit. You have to wash all fruit and vegetables before consuming but the housekeepers are pros at this. I’ve been fairly adventurous and eat almost anywhere and haven’t had any serious food poisoning. Restaurants in Mumbai are safe, even the smaller local places. Dengue is less common in Mumbai than other posts and I haven’t heard of anyone getting malaria recently. Some of us take Malarone for malaria but most stop taking it. Medical care is great here. It’s easy to get an appointment with any specialist and many clinics are open after work and on Saturdays. People usually evacuate for complex surgeries or childbirth, but many are opting to give birth in Mumbai given the quality of health care. - Apr 2024
Very good and affordable healthcare. - Jul 2023
Medical care in Mumbai is excellent. The only medical evacuations I’ve known of have been for cancer, and one major surgery. Others have received medical attention here, including outpatient surgery, with great experiences. - May 2023
Medical care seems to be available. Air pollution can be a problem at certain times of the year. Homes should have air purifyiers and filters to ensure health. - Feb 2023
Sanitation concerns. - Aug 2021
Air quality is bad, if you have asthma or lung problems, don't come here. Availability of medical care is generally good, but if you are going to have a major surgery, you will probably be MEDEVACed to Singapore. I even got LASIK surgery done in Mumbai. No regrets. - Nov 2020
Malaria and dengue are surprisingly common here. Many people take prophylaxis pills to combat it. Food-borne illness is also very common. You will puke your guts out for no seeming reason at one point or another. Can even happen from eating at high-end places. Probiotics can help. My view on healthcare is that the doctors are well-trained but the facilities and administrative procedures are poor so it doesn’t always end up being a good experience. It will be very cheap though! - Aug 2019
Besides falling into an open manhole cover or getting hit by a rickshaw, the biggest medical threats are respiratory issues, dengue, and the occasional food poisoning if you eat street food. Some people have problems with the air quality, which is very bad especially in winter. The private hospitals and private doctors are good, not up to US levels, but fine for most care. Appointments are easy to get. Costs are usually very low, maybe about 1/10th of US cost for things like MRIs, dental care, LASIK, etc. Some of the doctors are very good, especially those who have studied in the US or Europe. - Mar 2019
Malaria, Dengue, and water borne illnesses. - Jan 2019
Dengue, malaria, respiratory infections due to poor air quality. Stomach issues, endless health concerns. - May 2018
Malaria, dengue, a bunch of tropical diseases, and regular stomach bugs. But expat medical care is high quality and very cheap. I went to the ER for a serious dog bite and the bill was $18 including stitches and medication. - Jun 2017
Medical care is excellent, and super cheap per our Medical Officer. X rays cost less than lunch. The problem is if you need follow up care. Since this place ain't super clean, the threat of infection is an issue. - Aug 2015
Some people come to India for medical tourism, but if anyone in my agency needs advanced care, they are medevac'd. Lots of basic stuff is easily available, especially dental care. Orthodontics can be found at a fraction of U.S. prices, done by doctors trained in the U.S. Lots of people get braces here, or do laser hair removal. There are definitely health concerns -- typhoid is common, dengue, malaria, hepatitis (esp Type A, which is the one you get from eating contaminated food), 'Delhi belly', rabies is possible, TB is endemic, other things I'm not thinking of right now. However, there are vaccines for a lot of this, and other things can be avoided with common sense and a little forethought. Don't eat street food, don't drink tap water, keep yourself from getting mosquito bites as much as possible, don't pet stray animals, etc. Most people don't end up with anything worse than Delhi belly once in a while. - Nov 2014
It is very difficult to stay healthy here. Medical care is okay. You can find state of the art technology in the private clinics and hospitals but the doctors are really hit or miss. Dental care is cheap and this seems like a great place to do major work or braces. - Mar 2014
This is the paradox I've never fully understood. I was admitted to a private hospital for 4 days and the quality of care was much better than back home. The doctors even gave their home phone numbers and I was given the best possible care, and it was very affordable too. That being said, the poor defecate on the streets and lack everything. It is dehumanizing and distressing. - Feb 2014
The monsoon causes a lot of health issues. Food is an issue, but I haven't gotten seriously sick in my few months here. - Aug 2013
Don't drink the water. An article about Bandra's water supply said that the e.coli count was INFINITE. I have a wall-mounted Aqua Guard filter provided by my employer, but I only use that for cooking and washing fruits and veggies. We drink bottled water. Be careful where you eat out. Protect yourself from mosquitoes. In the monsoon, you may have to walk through puddles...wash your feet as soon as you get home. I don't have much experience with healthcare here as I try to avoid Indian hospitals at all costs. I went to Lilavati, which is supposed to be Mumbai's most prestigious hospital, for a general check-up and was met with crowds, antiquated equipment, and very little in the way of explanation or information. It took us 4 hours to be shuttled around from room to room to be weighed, have blood drawn, blood pressure checked, etc. But I guess healthcare here IS cheap and adequate. - May 2013
Malaria and dengue are still problems here. Other concerns include rabies (get your vaccines, there are thousands of street dogs), respiratory conditions as a result of the pollution, and dysentery. Quality of medical care is generally low (though there are some good dentists and ophthalmologists and people here have had a lot of work done). - Feb 2013
Excellent and affordable dental care is available. There are lots of health concerns, including malaria, dengue, and gastrointestinal issues. Sometimes there are random viruses that come and go and you never really know what they were. I haven't been able to find a doctor yet but I know they're out there. - Dec 2010
Disease eradicated long ago in the developed world flourish quite well in India. So yes there are concerns. Medical care? Just hope that you don"t need any from the locals. - Nov 2008
Many. Food and water safety is very low. Food poisoning is depressingly common. Other illneses abound. There are 15 million people here (at least), and 50% don't have a toilet. You do the math. Decent health care available. - Aug 2008
Health care is surprisingly good and very cheap with caveats. All care is very inexpensive, but emergency care is very poor, as the planning in India is very poor for staffing, and preparing an ER with neccessary items. Several friends have given birth in India, reconstructive surgeries, and such. Best Hospital is HINDUSTAN with a fully staffed ER, US Quality Lab... - Jul 2008
