Practical travel information on Health in Bishkek - Lonely Planet Travel Information

Health & safety

Contents

Dangers & annoyances
While you're there

Dangers & annoyances

Bishkek smiles during the day but is neither safe nor well lit after dark. At this time, all the normal Central Asian security rules apply. If you’re out after dark, stick to main streets, avoid the parks and steer clear of the area around the train station.

Crooked plain-clothed policemen are a problem in Bishkek, particularly at Osh Bazaar and at the corner of Soviet and Moskva. They will demand your passport and try to look in your bag and search your money (palming some). Legally you are required to carry your passport at all times but it’s always worth trying to give them only a copy. If your passport is at an embassy, then get the embassy to write this on a photocopy of your passport.

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While you're there

Medical services

Pharmacies are marked darykhana (Kyrgyz) or apteka (Russian) and there is a 24-hour one on the north side of the Hyatt; the Metro-pol (68 10 05; Soviet 340; 24hr).

Kyrgyz Republic Hospital (outpatients 22 89 60, 24hr emergencies & hospital ambulance 26 69 16; Kiev 110) Probably the best bet for medical attention is also known as State Clinic No 2. Bring an interpreter.

Tsentr Semeinoi Meditsiny (Centre of Family Medicine; 66 06 44, 66 06 91; Bokonbayevo 144A) Some readers have recommended it. By Logvinenko

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