Health care in Belize

When I first moved to the Cayo District, I had a very bad ear infection.  I went to the hospital first.  They took all of my info, gave me a little card, and had me see a Spanish doctor. He prescribed medication - all of this for free!  However, none of it worked.  The ear infection didn't go away.  I then went to a private physician downtown, and again, he gave me meds, and again, it didn't work.  He charged me $50 bze for his time and $50 bze for the meds.

Finally, I tried the Cayo Medical Clinic on Bullet Tree Road.  I found an ear specialist doctor.  He told me many of the doctors here unfortunately don't use good antibiotics.  He prescribed some that came from the States.  Five days later the ear infection was gone.  He charged me $75 bze for his time, and about $50 bze for the meds. 

I found this whole process a bit frustrating, but in the end, I will always go to this clinic from now on as I think it is the most sophisticated health care I've found in the country.

I haven't been to a dentist yet, but there are a few here to choose from.  I believe the Cayo Med Clinic also has an eye specialist as well.

Lastly, there are so many pharmacies in San Ignacio/Santa Elena it's hard to count.  My favorite is at the clinic or Codd's, which has a location in San Ignacio and anothe rin Santa Elena.

One last note - you cannot get an MRI in Belize.  You can go to Guatemala or Merida, Mexico.

Hi there.  Thanks for this information.  I'm wondering, does Belize have anything like a 911 in the US?  Who does one call if one has a medical or other kind of emergency?  Thanks.

Yes, Belize does have a 911 system.  At least in Cayo they seem to respond in a pretty decent time frame from what I've heard, though I've never had to use it myself. 

San Ignacio also has a large hospital here w/ emergency services as well, but in no way are they as sophisticated as the U.S.

A lot of Expats get International Health Insurance which covers not only your treatment if you get ill, but your transportation costs as well.  As I get older I may consider it, but for now I'm in the same boats as all the locals are.

Any recommendations for international health care ins? Do they disqualify you for preexisting? thank you!