Health – Mongolia travel advice

Check the TravelHealthPro website for the latest country-specific health advice from the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) at least 8 weeks before travel. Each country-specific page includes information on vaccine recommendations, any current health risks or outbreaks, and fact sheets on staying healthy abroad. NHS (Scotland) on the FitForTravel website also provides guidance.

General information on travel vaccinations and travel health checklists is available on the NHS website. You may then wish to contact your health advisor or pharmacy for advice on other precautions and managing any pre-existing conditions while you are abroad.

The legal status and regulations of certain medicines prescribed or purchased in the UK may differ in other countries. You can only bring medicines for personal use into Mongolia. These include emergency assistance medicines for up to 7 days, or medicines for diabetes, cancer, mental illness or HIV/AIDS that you have prescribed by your doctor. If you are arriving by air, you should carry all medicines in your checked luggage. NaTHNaC provides guidance on best practices for travelling with medicines. For more information on the legal status of a specific drug, you will need to contact the embassy, ​​high commission or consulate in the country or territory you are visiting.

While travel can be enjoyable, it can also be challenging at times. There is a clear link between physical and mental health, so it’s important to take care of yourself when traveling and abroad. Our guidance page provides information on travelling with mental health issues. More information is also available from the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC).

air pollution

Air pollution in Ulaanbaatar, especially in winter, can aggravate bronchial, sinus or asthma symptoms. Children, the elderly, and people with pre-existing medical conditions may be particularly affected. You can check the pollution index levels for many cities on the AQICN website.

health risk

There have been isolated incidents of bubonic plague contracted from eating woodchuck meat in some rural areas of Mongolia. While groundhog hunting is illegal in Mongolia, the meat is a delicacy in some rural areas. When traveling in rural areas, you should avoid eating groundhog meat and follow the latest advice from your local government.

If you think you have contracted the plague while traveling in Mongolia, you should report it immediately to the nearest hospital and call the National Centre for Infectious Diseases on +976 100. If you or your group are quarantined for the following reasons, please contact the British Embassy for an incident involving the Black Death.

medical treatement

You should always arrange medical insurance before traveling to Mongolia. Medical costs, especially when medical evacuation is required, can be substantial. Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and funds available to cover any medical and repatriation expenses abroad.

Foreigners need to seek medical treatment in Mongolia and pay 80% of the total cost when receiving medical treatment. The balance will be paid after treatment.
We recommend that you wear a helmet when riding animals.

If you need emergency medical assistance while travelling, please call +976 103 and ask for an ambulance. You should contact your insurance/medical assistance company as soon as possible and let them know what happened.

Healthcare standards in Mongolia are uneven. Quality and access can vary in Ulaanbaatar, and some private clinics operate in the city. Once out of Ulaanbaatar, the level of care will vary due to limited options for receiving treatment.

Because of the county’s size, those injured in remote parts of the country can take a long time to get to the nearest medical facility.

Treatment fees are fixed and most procedures are billed, so you should be able to confirm the cost before treatment. Medical supplies are mainly from China and Russia, so you may not know the medicines you are offering.

You should always carry a first aid kit with over-the-counter medicines you may need while traveling.

You should keep any regular prescription medicines you may need with you and have them on hand, just in case.

If the patient’s injury is life-threatening, the doctor will treat the patient without personal/family permission.