Jeddah - 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?
Heat-related illnesses could be an issue, especially at peak summer. Available medical care was usually decent, with foreign-trained doctors who spoke English, although access was much different. To renew my ADHD medicine, I went to the psychiatry department of one of the larger hospitals (Erfan and Bagedo), took a number and waited for my turn. The doctors often attempted to encourage me not to take a stimulant, but when I insisted always wrote me a prescription. Concerta was usually but not always available, and sometimes I had to go to multiple hospital pharmacies to find it (Soliman Fakeeh and the International Medical Centre were often better stocked than Erfan, but all three were decent). I think one likely *could* receive treatment for any medical condition in Jeddah, but if one has evacuation insurance heading to London or the US might be a better option to guarantee great care with limited communication barriers. - Oct 2022
I hear reports of dust-related allergies. The medical providers her are first world operations and Americans seek medical services regularly. I would not get any major surgery done here but that's just me and women generally choose to return to the US for birth children. - Aug 2022
Dust storms happen sometimes. Typically 2-3 times per year in Jeddah. Use of a dustmask or face covering and eye protection is recommended if you have to be outside during a sandstorm. There are a couple good local hospitals and medical evacuation was typically not necessary for anything urgent. Some specific health scans or treatments may require travel for treatment. Many cancer treatments may require care outside of Saudi. - Nov 2020
The medical care is pretty good, if you can find a provider. - Oct 2019
Air quality is not great, and you will get dust storms. There are a ton of doctors in town, a lot of whom were western-trained. The medical care generally is average, and certainly if you have anything life-threatening you want to get to London as quickly as possible. - Mar 2019
Medical care is hit or miss. There is a health unit on the consulate and a local doctor who is always there. Medevac point is London although some people are planning on giving birth here. - Jan 2019
Medical care available but extremely expensive. Lots of pollution in the air. - Apr 2016
Corona virus and dengue. There's terrible medical care here. - Nov 2015
There is no good medical care here. - Oct 2015
Medical care is very poor. Fancy hospitals have very poor service and are very expensive. - Oct 2015
Health care services look good at some hospitals, but can be lacking in some regards. - Aug 2015
Serious and urgent matters require medevac. - Feb 2014
There were a few scattered reports of dengue fever in Jeddah. Nothing huge. I won't use the medical care here for anything apart from teeth cleaning, a regular office visit for a checkup, or an eye checkup. If I or a family member needed to be cut open at all, for anything, I'd send them to Europe or the U.S. I'm not exaggerating that a lot of Saudi doctors paid others to do their homework for them during med school, and a few even outright bought their degrees. - Dec 2013
I don't trust any Saudi doctors. Cheating is too endemic in their culture, and they do it even if they attended Western medical schools. Plan on medevac for any significant medical concern, and avoid being in one of those nightmare stories . . . or avoid not living to tell your own nightmare story. - May 2013
I wouldn't have anything major done in Saudi. No child birth, surgery, root canal, etc. I would try to get to the states for anything that counts. - Nov 2010
