Health Care

Health care services in Bahrain are considered very good by U.S. standards; although, services are somewhat limited in scope from what is expected in the U.S. Contact the Medical Clinic at 011-973-1785-4260/6110, DSN 318-439-4260/6110 or the Dental Clinic at 011-973-1785-4211, DSN 318-439-4211.

When you move, TRICARE moves with you. No matter where you go in the world, TRICARE is there before, during and when you get to your next duty station.

There are steps you need to take to make sure changes to your TRICARE coverage go smoothly. Understand that when you move, you may have to use a different TRICARE option. Visit TRICARE Moving to learn more.

Before you move, you should take care of any routine medical needs, including immunizations, and fill your prescriptions so you have enough while traveling. If you need care during your move, visit TRICARE Getting Care When Traveling to learn what to do.

Filling prescriptions while traveling

You should refill prescriptions before traveling. But if you run out of a prescription drug while traveling, visit TRICARE Filling Prescriptions When Traveling.

Getting dental care while traveling

Getting dental care while traveling depends on your location and whether you are a service member or family member.

• If you are an active-duty service member within the United States or in U.S. territories, and near a military installation, you may be able to get emergency dental care at the dental treatment facility, or DTF, if available. If not, contact the TRICARE Active Duty Dental Care Program before you see a dentist and tell the contractor about your move. You will need to get an authorization before you see a dentist. The Active Duty Dental Care Program will work with you, so you can get care from a local network dentist.
• If you are an active-duty service member at an overseas location, call the TRICARE overseas regional call center to get authorization before you see a civilian dentist.
• If you are an active-duty family member within the United States, in U.S. territories or at an overseas location, you can find out if any nearby military dental treatment facility treats active-duty family members. If you're enrolled in the TRICARE dental program, call the TRICARE dental program contractor or visit their website to find a provider. You will need to get an authorization before you see the dentist.

With permanent change of station orders, ask for a copy of your medical and dental records from your military treatment facility and the dental treatment facility. Do this at least one month before your PCS date. The MTF should also transfer a copy of your record and any family records to your new duty station or you may be able to hand carry them to your new duty station.

If you want someone else to be able to get medical or dental information on you or your family while you are moving, you need to complete a DD Form 2870, "Authorization for Disclosure of Medical or Dental Information."

For more information on getting copies of medical records, visit TRICARE Request Copies of Medical Records.

Medical Care

Our goal is to provide quality health care and maintain medical readiness through the best business practices while providing a great working environment for our people.

Health care services in Bahrain are considered very good by United States standards; although, services are somewhat limited in scope from what is expected in the United States.

As the only military Medical and Dental Treatment Facility in Bahrain, we are quite busy. We are an outpatient medical clinic, which provides primary medical care to all active duty personnel and their family members, and primary dental care to all active duty personnel.

Medical services offered include:

• outpatient/primary care medicine, such as PAP smears, colposcopy, vasectomy, casting, etc
• flight physicals
• limited dive medicine physicals
• x-ray
• pharmacy
• immunizations
• laboratory

You may reach the medical clinic by calling DSN 318-439-4867/6110.

Emergency/Specialty Care -- We have no emergency services capability and rely on local host nation facilities for emergency and specialized services. By special arrangement with host nation health care facilities, we coordinate specialty care and hospitalization for all Active Duty Military.

Pharmacy

Prescriptions for chronic conditions or special order medications should be filled via the TRICARE mail order pharmacy (TMOP) program. The NBHC pharmacy maintains a limited quantity and variety of medications. Please call the pharmacy at DSN: 318-439-4861 for any questions about medications.

Dental Care

Dental services offered include routine preventive and restorative care including root canals, minor surgery, and limited prosthetics. Active duty service members have priority treatment, and family members are currently being referred to host nation dentists. TRICARE can provide a list of local dentists that are covered by the TRICARE Family Dental Program. Access to the dental clinic is limited to urgent/emergent care for family members and retirees.

We highly recommend all active duty personnel enroll their family members into the TRICARE Family Dental Program (TDP). For more information, you may contact us at DSN: 318-439-4325.

Anthrax and Small Pox Vaccination

The Deputy Secretary of Defense has directed mandatory Anthrax and Smallpox vaccinations for Emergency Essential and comparable DoD civilian employees (CE), and certain mission essential contractor personnel performing essential services within the USCENTCOM area of responsibility (AOR). The Anthrax vaccination is a series of 6 shots occurring at 0, 2, and 4 weeks; then at 6, 12, and 18 months, followed by an annual booster as long as they remain in the USCENTCOM AOR.

Smallpox vaccination is a one-time inoculation. To meet the immunization requirements it is preferred and recommended that CE reporting to the USCENTCOM AOR receive the Smallpox immunization and begin the Anthrax series before departing for USCENTCOM AOR and provide documentation upon arrival. A shot card or other medical documentation may be submitted to verify prior Anthrax and Smallpox vaccinations. If this is not possible, the CE will be required to report to the Branch Health Clinic to receive these required immunizations within 15 days of arrival. The Branch Health Clinic will also provide subsequent Anthrax vaccinations to complete the series, as well as annual boosters.

CE may be exempted from Anthrax and Smallpox requirements if they provide acceptable medical documentation which provides medical justification for exemption. Please refer to the Anthrax resource link and the Smallpox vaccination link for more information. 

Also, some geographic regions of USCENTCOM AOR have been identified as high risk for malaria; therefore the CE will be required to be placed on Anti-Malaria medication if they are assigned to, or required to travel to, these regions.

It is preferred that new employees, if possible, receive the first three shots in the Anthrax series before leaving CONUS for the following reasons:

• We know the individual will take the shot so it lessens the need to PCS for refusal
• If there is a severe reaction it can be managed in CONUS.
• A shot record is already established and our medical will only have to update when additional shots are given.

Reaction the Anthrax shot will not medically disqualify for the AOR, it will indicate that the individual should not continue the series for medically documented reasons. However, if it is not possible to begin the Anthrax series in CONUS, our medical is able to administer the shots, create the shot record, and provide the yearly booster. Therefore, do not delay reporting to the AOR, once the person is medically cleared by our (I stress our) medical PCS orders may be issued.

Please keep in mind that our Branch Medical Clinic is the final adjudicator of the O/S medical screening; a recommendation by the screener is not a medical clearance.

The Selectee can receive the Anthrax and Small Pox vaccination at the same time. However, the same rationale applies; if the Small Pox vaccination is not available or will delay reporting issue orders (If medically cleared) and the Small Pox vaccination will be given here.