Canberra - 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?
Specialists can take a wait. Five months for me. Some drugs are very controlled here. If you have a major issue it can be faster to go stateside. We're fine with providers for all our stuff here, just takes a bit more paperwork (dental, vision, PCP and other specialists). Sun is stronger here. It's good to get a dermatologist checkup and stock up on the huge range of sun hats, lightweight long sleeve sports shirts, and swimming "rashes" they have available. - May 2023
Medical care is great. No evacuation. In fact, while we were there about 8 people from our Embassy had babies in Australia - not one of them went back to the US and all said it was an amazing experience. - Aug 2020
Health care is horrible, good quality doctors but a really bad system of delivery. Hospitals are 3rd world: don't come here with medical problems. - May 2012
Some poinsonous wild life. Health care is great. - May 2011
Medical care is fine, but there is much more BS. - Dec 2010
Good health care, but ambulances are not quick. Also, expect to wait hours and pay a lot of $$ to use an emergency room. Better to use an after-hours clinic if one is sick during the weekend or in the evening if it is not an emergency. - Nov 2010
Allergies. I was never allergic to anything until I got here. Now I test positive for allergies to just about every native plant. There is excellent private medical care, but the hospitals are almost third-world quality. Don't come here with major medical issues! - Apr 2010
None. Quality and facilities are very nice. The only thing is that here you need to go to a GP (general practitioner) before you can go to a specialist. It means that even though you know you need an OB GYN, you still need to pay AUD 70 for a GP to give you a referral to go to the OB. There is always a GP cost involved. - Oct 2009
Great health care. The only thing you have to get used to is waiting for your turn. Unlike care in the U.S. you can wait several weeks and or months to get into speicalist docotors and or testing. Some people end up in Sydney if they need to see a specialist. - Apr 2009
