For every family member:
- Vaccine records (including infant and childhood records)
- A copy of your latest medical-check up including EKG, lab results, and X-ray report/s (only bring the actual X-ray film if there was a problem or specifically instructed to do so by you employer).
- A summary (or copy) of your medical and dental records.
- Regular or prescription medications (see below)
- Health Insurance cards, policy documents and contact numbers.
- Small travel first aid kit (e.g. such as available from Red Cross)
- Any favorite or brand name over the counter medicines you like to use. There may be a limited variety of things you are used to. For example:
Chewable, dissolvable gel tablets
Herbal, alternative, homeopathic, or aromatherapy preparations
Infant / Children’s mixtures
Pepto-Bismol (diarrhea) and Midol (menstrual cramps) are not available
Brands such as Advil, Tylenol, Benadryl etc. (are only available sometimes but there are other brands containing the same or similar drugs).
- A fine-tooth/nit comb for combing nits from hair in case of head-lice
- Digital thermometer
Do not pack vaccine books or medical records in your shipment - you will probably need them before your shipment arrives and is unpacked (e.g. for school records).
For anyone with current or long term condition/s:
- A letter from your health care provider explaining:
your history and diagnosis,
the past and present treatment,
the future management plan,
a list of your current medications (with generic names), and
any relevant test results.
This will greatly help you and your new health-care provider to smoothly continue your care in Cairo.
- Enough of your current medications to last you from the day you arrive until the first time you go on home leave and a few spare in case of unforeseen circumstances. This will allow you adequate time to determine if they are consistently available locally at an acceptable quality (especially hormones, thyroid medicines, blood thinners, ADHD medications, and epi-pens)
- Copies of the prescriptions for your medications.
- A formal letter from your doctor (signed and on letterhead) explaining that the medications you are carrying (list them) are for your personal use.
- A copy of your latest mammogram, x-ray, CT, MRI or other film and report(for comparison if your condition changes).
- Medical equipment you use (such as nebulizer, humidifier, sleep apnea machine, glucometer etc.) with enough supplies until you go on home leave (glucometers and automatic blood pressure machines are available locally).
Do not pack medicines in your shipment, even prescription drugs – you will have problems with customs and may not receive them.