- you can see any general doctor for a cost of about 22 Euros. You may get reimbursed by your health insurance if they cover international travels.
- Pharmacists are highly trained medical specialists who are entitled to give medical advise. Do not hesitate to ask them for their help before you go see a doctor.
- Most French doctors will offer extended hours, and will make house calls for an extra fee. SOS Medecin will send a doctor to your house in less that one hour (Paris - tel: 01 47 07 77 77 around 70 Euros).
French medical exam
A lot of people speak some English in France, particularly in the big cities, but it is a good idea to familiarize yourself a bit with my free and all recorded French medical exam before going there: I wrote that physical with the help of 2 doctors, and it comes with audio so you can train on your pronunciation and understanding - help me spread the word please!
For medical emergencies in France
- You can walk in any French hospital in case of emergency, they will treat you first, then talk about money.
- Should you need an ambulance, call SAMU (call on the phone the 15) or Les Pompiers (fire-brigade, phone 18) – these numbers are call free, and would work from any phone booth.
- SOS Dentiste (Paris) tel. 01 43 37 51 00
- SOS Help (English-language crisis line) tel. 01 46 21 46 46
English Speaking hospitals in the Paris region
- the American Hospital, 63 blvd Victor Hugo 92202 Neuilly, Tel. 33-(0)1 46 41 25
- the British Hospital, 3 rue Barbès 92300 Levallois Tel. 33-(0)1 46 39 22 22
How to find an open Pharmacy in France
A lot of over the counter medicine are available by prescription only in France. And brand names are often different. Doctors have a big book with the main ingredients of a drug and it’s French name, so always bring your prescriptions with you.
Pharmacies are typically open from 9:30 AM to 7:00 PM, Monday to Saturday, and close during lunch time (12PM-2PM). However, everyday there is “une pharmacie de garde”, to be used only for emergencies, when treatment should not be delayed, and open all day and all night. In the countryside, they take turn, so the list is usually displayed on the window of any pharmacy, or available at the hospital, a doctor’s office, the fire station of police station.
There is usually a beeper by the side of the pharmacy, call and the pharmacist will come down.
Here is a site (in French) with the list of off-hours pharmacies in the Paris regions:
http://www.doctissimo.fr/html/medicaments/articles/medicaments_pharmacie_garde.htm
