How do you prepare for a hospital stay in Morocco, and what should you bring?

Before departure: what must be confirmed

• the date and time of admission, the department and the name of your contact person;
• any specific medical instructions: stopping or adjusting certain medicines, particularly anticoagulants and some diabetes treatments, and any fasting before a procedure;
• the paying body’s approval or the payment terms;
• the transfer between the airport and the facility;
• accommodation for the companion.

No medicine should be stopped on your own initiative: only the team’s written instructions are authoritative.

Documents to take

• the passport and, where applicable, the authorisation to enter Morocco;
• the admission confirmation, the estimate and the approval of cover if there is one;
• the treating doctor’s summary letter;
• all medical reports, including those already sent;
• imaging media: CDs, USB sticks, films;
• the pathology report;
• the vaccination record, especially for a child;
• the contact details of the treating doctor and of a relative to be informed.

These documents travel in hand luggage: checked baggage can be delayed.

Medicines

Bring your usual treatments in sufficient quantity for the whole stay plus a few extra days, in their original packaging, with the prescriptions. A list of medicines by international non-proprietary name, with doses and times, helps the team recognise them, as brand names vary from country to country. Medicines that must be kept cool, such as insulin, need arrangements during the journey.

Personal belongings

• comfortable clothes that are easy to put on, and an outfit for discharge;
• closed, non-slip shoes, especially after leg or back surgery;
• glasses, hearing aids, dentures and their cases;
• any prescribed personal device, such as a ventilation device for sleep apnoea;
• a phone and charger, with an electrical adapter if needed: in Morocco, the supply is 220 volts and sockets are of the European type;
• something to pass the time: a book, headphones;
• few valuables and little cash.

Admission day

Reception checks your identity, the administrative documents and the payment arrangements. You are then settled in the department, where the team records your medical history, treatments and allergies. Before a procedure, you meet the anaesthetist, and information and consent documents are given to you. Do not hesitate to ask for an explanation in a language you understand, and to get help from your companion.

During the hospital stay

Tell the team about any pain, new symptom or concern. Mention your dietary or religious needs, for example a particular diet. Visiting hours and whether a companion can stay overnight depend on the department. It helps to designate one relative who gathers news for the family at home.

Preparing discharge from the start

The discharge date and the documents to be received are discussed from admission: hospital discharge report, operative report, results, prescriptions and follow-up schedule. These documents are needed for the return and for the doctor who will take over follow-up.

Frequently asked questions