In the first weeks after a move, healthcare rarely feels like a priority — until your child falls ill on a Sunday night. So that such a moment doesn't catch you unprepared, the basics are worth arranging in advance, while everyone is well.
Find a pediatrician before your child falls ill
In a new country the family organises a child's medical care itself — so the best first step, while your child is healthy, is an initial consultation with a pediatrician, without putting it off. The doctor will record the health history, go through the vaccination documents and answer the questions that have piled up. From then on you will know whom to turn to in any situation — and the doctor will know your child.
Where to turn in different situations
- routine matters — check-ups, vaccinations, development: book an appointment at the clinic;
- your child has fallen ill: a pediatrician home visit or a clinic appointment; if you have the messenger-contact subscription with the pediatrician, you can describe the symptoms in a message — the doctor will tell you whether an in-person examination is needed;
- life-threatening conditions — difficulty breathing, convulsions, loss of consciousness: call Georgia's single emergency number, 112.
Pharmacies and medicines
Batumi has many pharmacies, and many medicines are sold freely. That is convenient, but with children the rule is simple: give your child only the medicines a doctor has recommended — the choice of a medicine and its dosage depends on age and weight. If in doubt, ask the pediatrician in the messenger before going to the pharmacy.
Insurance
Check the terms of your health insurance: whether it works in Georgia, whether it covers private clinics and how a claim is made. If you have no insurance, find out the cost of consultations in advance — that removes extra stress at the moment when help is needed urgently.
What to keep within reach
Save the number 112, your pediatrician's contact details and the clinic's address in your phone. At home, put together a basic children's first-aid kit (a thermometer, first-aid supplies — covered in detail in a separate article) and keep your child's medical documents in one known place.
A plan for the first month
- Straight after arrival: save the 112 number and the clinic's contacts, gather your child's medical documents into one place, check your insurance terms.
- Weeks one to two: have an initial consultation with the pediatrician — the doctor will record the health history and go through the vaccination documents.
- After that: assemble a home first-aid kit, find out the opening hours of the nearest pharmacy and, if kindergarten or school is planned, check which certificates will be needed.
The language question
Talking about health demands precision: you need to be able to describe symptoms in detail and to understand the recommendations. If you don't yet speak Georgian, ask when booking which language the consultation is held in, and keep your child's key information — diagnoses, allergies, vaccinations with dates — written down: that makes it easier to show the doctor in any situation.