Nearly half of all visitors to developing countries get sick during their stays. So go prepared by developing a travel medical checklist for your overseas travel.  I always take a small package of first-aid items: lotion for infections, aspirins, cold medicines and band-aids.  Separate your prescriptions between two bags so that you will always have some of your medications.  Ensure you have sufficient amount of prescriptions for your travel. Find out the generic equivalent in case you need to purchase some while on your trip.

Buy travel insurance. Some countries insist that you be insured before you make a visa application.  In cases like this getting international medical insurance is not an option.  You will be unable to procure a visa for the country you travel to if you do not have the required medical insurance.

Check the status of your immunizations. Diseases that are extinct in your home country do exist in many regions of the world.  Make an appointment with your doctor and update your routine immunizations: influenza, measles-mumps-rubella, polio, tetanus, and pneumonia.

Get special immunization. Determine what special immunizations may also be needed for your target destination. Often you can find this information on the web; for example, at www.cdc.gov or www.who.int.  

Bring along other medical documents. This is important especially if you have a pre-existing condition. Also include the address and fax or email address of your physician. Don’t forget to mention any allergies you have, especially if you are allergic to certain medications. Try to keep your medications in their original wrapping. A note from your physician stating that you need certain medications would be helpful if you run into any problems with customs and immigration.

Add these supplies to your Travel Kit: Prescription medicine in their original bottles, analgesics, diarrheal Rx, thermometer, spare glasses, sunscreen, band aids, mosquito repellent, travel insurance, passport and a copy of it stored in another part of your luggage or hand bag.

Make sure you know what liquid medications you will be allowed to carry on board with you. The TSA (or Transportation Security Administration) will not allow you to take onto the plane any liquids over 3 ounces.  Some medication is allowed on board, however. Get information online from the TSA website or speak with someone from the airlines you are flying on.

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