MEDICAL TREATMENT

ALL EUROPEAN UNION nationals are entitled to French social security coverage. However, treatment must he paid for and hospital rates vary widely. Reimbursements may be obtained if you have acquired your E111 form before you travel (available from post offices in the UK), but the process is long and complicated.

All travellers should consider purchasing travel insurance. Non-EU nationals are obliged to carry medical insurance, taken out before they arrive.

In the case of a medical emergency call SAMU (Service d'Aide Medicale Urgence) However, it is often faster to call Sapeurs Pompiers (the fire service), who offer a first aid and ambulance service. This is particularly true in rural areas where the local fire station is likely to be much closer than the ambulance service based in town. The paramedics are called secouristes.

Casualty departements (service des urgences) in public hospitals can deal with most medical problems. Your consulate should be able to recommend and English-speaking doctor in the area.

IF YOU BECOME ILL

If you are taken ill and need medicine, remember a drugstore (chemist) is called a "pharmacie". Night time and on Sundays, the Commissariat de Police of the district where you reside will inform you of the nearest drugstore (chemist) open and the address of the nearest doctor on duty. If you need to be taken to a hospital, the doctor will call an ambulance for you or you can apply to the:

Ambulances "Assistance Publique"

28, rue de I'Entrepot, 94220 Charenton

Tel: 01.43.78.26.26 - Fax.: 01.45.13.65.82

American Hospital

63, boulevard Victor-Hugo, 92202 Neuilly

Tel.: 01.46.41.25.25 - Fax.: (1) 01.46.24.49.38 - Telex: 613.344

British Hospital Hortford

3, rue Barbes, 92300 Levallois -

Tel.: 01.47.58.13.12 - Fax.: 01.47.58.02.34

Medicine by air from home

Ministere des Affaires Sociales

Service Central de la Pharmacie, 14, avenue Duquesne, 75007 Paris

Tel.: 01.40.56.53.80 - 01.40.56.60.00 - Fax.: 01.40.56.53.55

Open: daily except Saturdays and Sundays from 8:30 am to 12 noon and 2:00 pm to 5:30 pm. It is forbidden to import narcotics into France unless you obtain beforehand a special authorization from the French narcotic office at the address mentioned above.