IAMAT Travel Health & Doctor Directory

IAMAT Membership

How does IAMAT membership work?: Each travelling individual gets a IAMAT Membership Card, valid for one year. Present the card to the IAMAT affiliated doctor or clinic in order to receive quality medical care based on our affordable fixed rates. You pay the IAMAT physician directly after the consultation.

As a member you have access to the IAMAT Medical Directory listing our affiliated clinics and doctors in more than 90 countries and 350 cities. You will also get the IAMAT Traveller Clinical Record, a handy pamphlet to fill out your medical history and present to our affiliated physician.

As a public service, we also provide immunization requirements and recommendations for all countries, including food and water safety conditions, as well as prevention advice for tropical infectious diseases you may encounter at your destination.

How much does IAMAT membership cost?: IAMAT membership is free. Sign up online to get instant membership. You can also contact us by email, phone, or post to request membership

How do I renew my IAMAT membership?: You can do it online, by email, post, or by phoning us. In order to ensure that IAMAT member benefits (including access to our Medical Directory) are uninterrupted, we ask for a donation - in any amount - to help us continue and expand our work.

I am travelling with my partner and/or children, do they need to sign up for membership?: Yes. IAMAT membership cards are issued for each traveller. Please fill out the section in the Become a IAMAT Member form with their first and last names. If you are joining by email, phone, or post, please make sure to give us their names.

What amount should I donate to IAMAT?: We appreciate any amount. Whatever you can give - or what you think IAMAT resources are worth to you - will help us continue and expand our work. We accept VISA, MasterCard, and cheques. If your are donating by credit card, the transaction on your statement will either show as FSIMT (Foundation for the Support of International Medical Training, Inc.) or IAMAT (International Association for Medical Assistance to Travellers).

Is IAMAT an insurance company?: No. We are a non-profit organization that provides free travel health advice to travellers and we coordinate an international network of doctors for travellers in need of emergency medical care during their trip. We suggest getting international travel health insurance coverage if you are concerned about major expenses such as emergency surgery, extended hospital stays or medical evacuation.

Is IAMAT involved in medical tourism?: IAMAT does not coordinate services for patients who choose to have elective healthcare procedures or surgeries done abroad. We provide travellers with detailed advice on preventing the spread of infectious diseases and staying healthy during their trip. If a IAMAT member becomes sick away from home, they have access to our affiliated doctors who provide emergency care or make referrals to a specialist.

Are you funded by medical or pharmaceutical corporations?: No. We solely depend on voluntary contributions from our members which include individuals, companies, organizations, and travel health clinics. This allows us to remain independent and provide impartial travel health information as well as recruit medical practitioners around the world without compromising medical ethics.

What is your Charity Registration Number?: USA: 501(c)3 non-profit. E.I. Number 13-2613755
Canada: Business Number 11892 9231 RR0001
IAMAT is a Division of the FOUNDATION FOR THE SUPPORT OF INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL TRAINING, INC. (FSIMT).

What is travel health?: Travel health is about awareness and prevention. There are three phases to consider: Pre-trip preparation, staying healthy during your trip, and post-trip follow-up. IAMAT specializes in providing pre-trip travel health advice and helps travellers access qualified medical care around the world, including in remote locations, during their trip.

Travel health is a relatively new field of medicine. In the past 15 years there have been major advancements in public education and medical practitioner knowledge of protecting travellers' health. IAMAT started working in this area in 1960 and continues to be a leader in this field.

What vaccinations do I need?: It depends. To get the correct vaccinations and advice, you need to determine the type of travel you're going to undertake, the geographic location of your destination, the duration of your trip, your medical history, and your current health status. IAMAT compiles and regularly reviews a comprehensive list of required and recommended immunizations for all countries.

What are routine vaccinations?: Routine immunizations are also known as childhood vaccinations. They include polio, measles, mumps, rubella, diphteria, pertussis and tetanus. We recommend that travellers have these immunizations updated before their trip. Routine boosters last 10 years while some childhood vaccinations protect you for life. If you don’t remember when you last got yours, we recommend getting them regardless.

What are required and recommended vaccinations?: Required vaccinations are necessary if you need proof of vaccination to enter a country. They are often required to protect the population of the host country you are visiting and to avoid the spread of infectious diseases in your home country. Recommended vaccinations are suggested to protect the health of travellers during their trip and to prevent the spread of infectious diseases across borders.

What are selective vaccinations?: Selective vaccinations are suggested for people going on specific trips such as visiting rural areas, taking part in working assignments, or planning long-term travel, where they are at higher risk of contracting vaccine-preventable diseases than traditional travellers.

How soon before I travel should I get vaccinated?: We recommend getting immunized 6 to 8 weeks in advance. This allows your body to build antibodies (immunity) against infections. Some vaccines are given in two or three doses and you may have to visit a travel health clinic more than once.

I just found out that I'm leaving on a trip in less than a week. Can I still get vaccinated in such short notice?: Yes. However, this may cause severe soreness. We recommend being vaccinated in your home country since vaccines at your destination may not be suitable or safe.

How much do travel vaccines cost?: Travel health clinics set their own fees. They usually charge a consultation fee in addition to the price of each vaccine.

Where can I find a list of travel health clinics nearby?: USA: International Society for Travel Medicine

Canada: Public Health Agency of Canada

Check with your national public health agency for travel health clinic listings in other countries.

Where can I find travel health advisories for my destination?: World Health Organization
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Public Health Agency of Canada

What is an endemic area?: An endemic area is a region or country where an infection is continously transmitted within the population. It can be occurring at low, intermittent or high levels.

What is an epidemic?: An epidemic is a sudden outbreak of an infectious disease with a high morbidity (illness) and / or mortality rate.