Guidance

British nationals hospitalised in Sri Lanka

Updated 16 March 2023

If you’re hospitalised in Sri Lanka and the British Consular Services are notified, we will try to contact you as soon as possible to see how we can help you. We will then aim to provide assistance according to your needs and how vulnerable you are.

Find out how we can help if you are hospitalised.

To decide how to support you, we will consider factors such as your condition, whether you can speak on the phone, whether you are being supported by a tour operator or insurance company representative, or have relatives or friends with you.

We do not usually contact or visit people who have travelled specifically for medical treatment.

Going into hospital

In an emergency, you are admitted to hospital through A&E.

Telephone 1990 for an ambulance. The Emergency operator will send an ambulance for you. A medical technician and doctor on duty will assess you at the Hospital provide necessary treatment and take you to the nearest government hospital. If you wish to go to a private hospital, the ambulance will take you to the nearest private hospital in the district, but only with the doctor’s approval.

Depending on your condition, you may go straight to the emergency ward.

If you do not arrive by ambulance, you’ll be pre-assessed on arrival by a doctor in the hospital. Government hospitals are very crowded and patients have to take a token number to be seen by the doctor.

Waiting times will depend on the token number you have and the number of patients waiting for Out Patient Department (OPD).

If you are going into a private hospital, you will be directed to see the OPD doctor who will assess your condition. They will either admit you to the hospital or decide on appropriate treatment as an outpatient.

If you are admitted to hospital, give personal belongings you do not need (such as jewellery, your wallet and identification documents) to a family member or friend for safe keeping. If you’re alone, ask the hospital staff to put your personal belongings in a secure locker.

While you’re in hospital

As a patient, you will need to bring your own towels, toiletries, nightwear, etc. Government hospitals will not provide these even in an emergency situation, but you can ask family or friends to bring them after you’ve been admitted.

Meals are provided free of charge. You will normally get 3 meals each day (breakfast, lunch and dinner) but menus and meal times may vary according to your medical condition.

There are usually between 30 and 60 beds in each ward in government hospitals. If you want a single room, you may need to pay to go to a private hospital. A laundry service for personal items of clothing is not normally provided, so make sure you have enough clothing.

Different wards often have different visiting times and regulations. Check Sri Lanka travel advice for more information.

Paying for your treatment

The British High Commission cannot provide financial assistance to British nationals who have been hospitalised in Sri Lanka.

The cost of treatment received abroad by UK citizens is normally the responsibility of the individual and the costs of medical treatment cannot be claimed from the British National Health Service. If you have been hospitalised, you may be asked to pay your medical bills. There are several ways to do this:

• through a valid insurance policy: if you are hospitalised for a condition which does not pre-date the insurance policy, the insurance should cover the costs for treatment and possibly for medical repatriation. Check details of your cover with your insurance provider
• pay for it yourself
• get help from family, friends or employer

Government hospitals are only free for locals. Foreigners will need to pay. However, the treatment costs are not as expensive as in a private hospital. You have to pay in cash. They do not accept card payments and insurance.

The British High Commission in Sri Lanka cannot pay medical bills.

Contact your insurance company

We recommend that you get travel insurance before you travel abroad.

If you have travel insurance, you or your family should contact your insurance company immediately. You can also pass your insurance details to the hospital Billing Department, to make direct contact with your insurance company.

We can only help you to liaise with your insurance company in exceptional circumstances, such as if:

• you are unable to call them yourself, and
• you have no one who can do this for you

You should also contact your GP in the UK, as your insurance company may want to speak to them as well. Your insurance company may not accept your claim if you did not disclose a previous condition.

Remember to keep any receipts and medical reports. You may need them to make a claim for reimbursement of expenses on your return home.

Making a complaint

If you’re not happy with the care you’re receiving, you can make a complaint to the hospital’s manager.

A complaint can usually be filed in person, on the phone or in writing.

We cannot raise complaints with the hospital on your behalf.

For more serious complaints, you will need to seek legal advice from an English-speaking lawyer in Sri Lanka.

Before you leave hospital

Ask for your medical records, fit to fly certificate, passport and any medical prescriptions.

Your airline may require a fit-to-fly certificate. Make sure you request one before you leave the hospital.

Full medical report

If you want a full medical report, you’ll need to request this before leaving the hospital.

Medical repatriation

If you have travel insurance, you should contact your insurance company as soon as you are hospitalised. This will give them time to check whether your policy covers your condition, and get your permission to access your medical records through your GP. Once they have validated your policy, they will liaise with your treating doctor to agree the best way for you to travel home. It may be some time before you are well enough to travel, and communication between hospital staff and the insurance company representatives is vital to assess and plan your repatriation.

If you do not have travel insurance and you wish to be medically repatriated, you (or your next-of-kin) may wish to consider paying for repatriation. We cannot help with the cost of repatriation, and we recommend you contact a few medical repatriation companies to obtain an estimate of the cost.

View a list of medical repatriation companies.

Our contact details

Consular section

British High Commission
389 Baudhaloka Mawatha
Colombo 07
Telephone: (00 94)11 5390639
Website: https://gov.uk/contact-consulate-colombo

Office hours: Monday to Thursday, local time: 8am to 3:30pm; Friday, local time: 8am to 1pm

Out-of-hours: if you are British and need the embassy’s assistance, dial 00 94 11 5390639 and select ‘Help for British nationals’. A team of consular officers is available on the telephone to help 24 hours, 7 days a week.

Use our contact form for consular enquiries:
http://www.gov.uk/contact-consulate-colombo.

Further guidance

Find out more:

• in hospital abroad
• doctors and medical facilities

Disclaimer

This information has been prepared by UK government officials who are not legally or medically trained. It should therefore never be used as a substitute for professional medical or legal advice. It is intended to help British nationals overseas make their own informed decisions. Neither the UK government nor any official of the Consulate accept liability for any loss or damage which you might suffer as a result of relying on the information supplied.