Azerbaijan

Quick Overview

Capital: Baku
Population: 9.762 million
Official language: Azerbaijani
Time zone: Azerbaijan Time (AZT)
Emergency #: 103
Vaccinations required: No
Risk of malaria: No
Climate Info

Azerbaijan: Travel Health Information

Azerbaijan is a mountainous country that features popular tourist destinations such as Xan Sarayi, Maiden’s Tower, Fazil Labarynth, Palace of the Shivanshahs, and Gandzasar Monastery.

Healthcare

The standards for patient care and medical services in Azerbaijan may differ from your home country. Azerbaijan has both public and private health sectors. Private facilities in Baku can provide an adequate standard of care, but healthcare facilities outside of the capital are extremely limited and fail to meet international standards. There’s a shortage of physicians working in rural areas and public facilities receive little investment. Most rural facilities have limited and poor quality medical equipment and do not have a central water supply or a piped sewage system.

In the event of a medical emergency, contact your travel health insurance company immediately. Hospitals typically require upfront payment with cash or credit card, regardless if you have travel health insurance. Due to limited health care services, evacuation to Turkey or Europe is common for serious medical emergencies. You should ensure you have accessible funds to cover upfront fees and adequate travel health insurance, including evacuation. Before you depart, check with your insurer about the extent of their coverage in Azerbaijan.

Pharmacies and medications

Pharmacies are found in major cities. Certain medications may be in short supply or unavailable. Avoid purchasing medications from markets or unlicensed pharmacies, as fake medication is common. 

If you are travelling with medication, check with Azerbaijan's embassy, consulate, or Ministry of Health for details on medication allowances and restrictions. If your medication is a psychotropic or narcotic, you can review Azerbaijan's regulations on the International Narcotics Control Board. Note that these sources may provide incomplete or out-of-date information.

Road safety

Roads in Azerbaijan are generally in poor condition. Road rules may be inconsistently followed and enforced. Road accidents are common and often involve pedestrians. Practice caution when driving and walking near roads. Driving at night can be dangerous, particularly on rural roads as they are typically not paved or well-lit. 


  • Ibrahimov, F., Ibrahimova, A., Kehler, J., & Richardson, E. (2010). Azerbaijan: Health system review. Health Systems in Transition. Vol. 12 No. 3. European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies.
  • World Health Organization. Global Health Observatory (GHO) Data: Azerbaijan.
  • World Health Organization. (2015). Global status report on road safety 2015. Geneva: World Health Organization.

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