For minor health complaints, a visit to a pharmacy is likely to be sufficient. Egyptian pharmacists are well trained and dispense a wide range of drugs, including many normally on prescription in Europe. If they feel you need a full diagnosis, they can usually recommend a doctor - sometimes working on the premises. Most doctors speak English or French. Pharmacies , found in every town, form the advance guard of Egypt's health service. Pharmacists usually speak English, and can dispense most drugs without a prescription. Private doctors are equally common, but charge for consultations: expect to pay about £E50 (roughly £10/US$16) a session, excluding the price of any drugs you are prescribed.Many hospitals ( mustashfa) require a deposit of around £E200. Normally you must pay this on admission; a delayed payment by your insurance company is not acceptable.

Travel insurance can buy you peace of mind as well as save you money. Before you purchase any insurance, however, check what you have already. North Americans, in particular, may find themselves covered for medical expenses and loss of or damage to valuables while abroad. Some credit cards, too, offer insurance benefits if you use them to pay for tickets, though the level of coverage may be less than adequate. If you are traveling for any real length of time, however, additional or specific travel insurance is reassuring. Most policies are quite comprehensive, covering not just medical costs but also loss or theft of baggage and money; and in real trouble they should get you home. If you are diving, be sure that your policy covers you for this: treatment in a decompressions chamber can cost US$1000 a day.