North American visitors will find that medical treatment is far less expensive than they're accustomed to in the United States, but even so it's advisable to take out travel insurance. In the case of an emergency, you should go to a hospital, since this will prove less expensive than a doctor's visit. Prescription drugs are also cheap, but pharmacies will only fill Prescnptions written by EC doctors. HEALTH PROBLEMS In Denmark, tourist offices and health offices (kommunes social og sundhedfonahning) have lists of doctors. If the doctor decides you need hospital treatment, it'll be arranged for free but always take your El 11 with you. For doctors' consultations, dental treatment and prescriptions (available from an Apotel you will have to pay the full cost on the spot, but keep a receipt and take this together with your El 11 and passport to the local health office for a refund a sometimes long and frustrating process. Health care here is free for American visitors, provided it doesn't look like you have come to Denmark with the intention of having a serious illness treated for free. In Norway, hotels and tourist offices have lists of local doctors and dentists, and there'll usually be a casualty ward you can go to outside surgery hours. You'll pay 701 OOkr for an appointment but EC citizens will be reimbursed for part of the cost of any treatment; ambulance travel and hospital stays are free. Get a receipt (Legeregnin at the time of payment, and take it and your passport to the social insurance office (Trygdekasse) of the district where treatment was obtained. For prescription drugs, go to a pharmacy {Apoteki: lateopening ones in the main cities are detailed in the guide. In Sweden there is no local doctor system: go to the nearest hospital with your passport and for around 120kr they'll treat you. If you need medicine you'll get a prescription to take to a pharmacy {Apotekt, for which the maximium charge is normally around lOOkr. Hospital stays are free; the casualty department is the Akutmottagning. For dental treatment you'll pay 60 percent of the cost up to ЗОООкг, 50 percent between 3000 and 7000kr, and 25 percent above that. For dental surgeries, look for the sign TandlSkare. In Finland, treatnnent at a doctor's surgery [Terveyskesku, found in all towns and villages, is free, but medicines have to be paid for at a pharmacy [Apteekki] although, provided you have your passport, you won't be charged more than Finns. Hospitals have an outpatient's charge of 67mk per day; a stay in a hospital bed costs 87mk a day. INSURANCE For all the Scandinavian countries it's worth taking out some kind of comprehensive travel insurance, especially if you're not an EC citizen. In Britain, travel insurance schemes {from around ?20 a month) are sold by all travel agents: S5 policies, from any of the youth travel companies listed on p.4, or branches of Endsleigh Insurance (in London at 97 Southampton Row, WC1; e071436 4451) are among the cheapest.