Stranded in Israel? What to do if your flight is cancelled and you need medication
- reception
- Mar 22
- 4 min read
The ongoing security situation in Israel has led to flight cancellations and disruptions affecting thousands of travelers. If you find yourself stranded in Jerusalem, or anywhere in Israel, longer than you planned, one of the most urgent concerns can be your health and medication.
You packed enough tablets for a week. Your flight has now been cancelled for the third time. Your GP back home isn't answering. The pharmacy doesn't understand your foreign prescription. Sound familiar?
You're not alone, there is help available.
The most common problems we hear from stranded tourists
At JDoc Israel we have been supporting tourists and visitors caught in exactly this situation. The concerns we hear most often are:
Running out of prescription medication brought from home
Missing regular doses of medication for chronic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, thyroid conditions, asthma or mental health
Needing a repeat prescription with no way to reach their GP back home
Foreign prescriptions not being accepted at Israeli pharmacies
Feeling anxious, exhausted or physically unwell due to the stress and uncertainty of being stranded
Not knowing where to turn in an unfamiliar healthcare system
If any of these apply to you, please know that help is closer than you think.
How JDoc Israel can help
As a private English speaking GP clinic in Jerusalem, JDoc Israel is fully equipped to support stranded travelers with urgent medical and prescription needs.
Electronic prescriptions valid across all of Israel
The good news is that in most cases, getting your regular medication prescribed in Israel is straightforward, as long as you can provide proof of your existing prescription. JDoc Israel issues electronic prescriptions that are accepted at pharmacies throughout the whole of Israel, not just Jerusalem. Whether you're staying in Tel Aviv, Eilat, the Dead Sea or anywhere else, your prescription can be filled at a local pharmacy without any additional steps.
What counts as proof?
In most cases, any of the following is sufficient for Dr Abramov to issue an Israeli electronic prescription for your medication:
Your original medication packaging showing the medication name, dosage and your name
A letter or printout from your GP at home
A photograph of your prescription on your phone
Your medical records or a summary from your doctor
The medication itself if you still have some remaining
If you have any of these, the process is quick and simple. Even if your documentation is limited, contact us anyway, we will always do our best to help within safe medical guidelines.
We can prescribe most common medications including:
Blood pressure and heart medications
Diabetes medications and insulin
Thyroid medications
Asthma inhalers and respiratory medications
Antidepressants and anxiety medications
Antibiotics and infection treatments
Pain relief and anti-inflammatory medications
And many more
Telephone and home consultations available
We understand that when you are stranded, exhausted and stressed, travelling to a clinic is not always easy. JDoc Israel offers:
Telephone consultations — speak from wherever you are in Israel
Home or hotel visits in Jerusalem — we come to you
Same day appointments in most cases
You do not need to be physically in Jerusalem to contact us. If you are elsewhere in Israel and need a prescription or medical advice, we can consult by telephone and issue your electronic prescription digitally.
Insurance documentation for extended stays
If your stay in Israel has been extended due to flight cancellations, your travel insurance policy may cover additional medical expenses and costs associated with your extended stay. JDoc Israel provides:
Full medical consultation letters
Itemized receipts suitable for insurance claims
Documentation confirming the medical necessity of any treatment
We recommend contacting your travel insurer as soon as possible to notify them of your situation. Most policies have a 24-hour emergency line, keep that number accessible.
Practical advice if you are stranded in Israel
Beyond medical support, here are a few practical steps worth taking if your flight has been cancelled:
Contact your airline immediately and keep all cancellation documentation
Notify your travel insurer — most policies cover extended accommodation and expenses due to cancellations
Contact your embassy or consulate if you need consular assistance, the British, American, French and other embassies have emergency lines for nationals in difficulty
Stay connected — make sure your phone has sufficient data or a local SIM so you can receive updates and reach help if needed
Look after your health — stress, disrupted sleep and changes in routine can affect your physical health. Don't ignore symptoms, and don't ration medication
A note on mental health
Being stranded far from home, especially in a region experiencing conflict and uncertainty, can be genuinely frightening and distressing. Anxiety, poor sleep, loss of appetite and low mood are completely normal responses to an abnormal situation.
If you are struggling emotionally as well as physically, please mention this when you speak to us. Dr Abramov takes a holistic approach to care and can provide support, advice and if appropriate, short-term medication to help you manage until you are able to return home.
You do not need to be in a crisis to reach out. If you are not coping well, that is enough of a reason to call.
Contact JDoc Israel
If you are stranded in Israel and need medical help or a prescription, please contact us as soon as possible. We will do everything we can to help you stay safe and well.
Phone: +972 2 372 1158
WhatsApp: +972 52 819 1850
Email: reception@jdocisrael.co.il
Clinic address: 216 Jaffa Street, 2nd floor, Jerusalem
Opening hours: Sunday–Thursday 9am–3:30pm, Friday 9am–12pm
Out of hours care: available — contact us for details
We speak English, French and Hebrew. Telephone consultations and electronic prescriptions are available for travelers anywhere in Israel.
A final thought
Nobody plans to be stranded. But if it happens to you, please know that you are not without support. JDoc Israel are part of the JDoc365 family, a practice with many years of experience caring for English speaking patients in London. We brought that experience with us to Jerusalem, and we are here for you now, whatever you need, wherever you are in Israel.
Take a breath. You've got this. And we've got you.
Stay safe, and we hope you're home soon.
— Dr Sylvia Abramov and the JDoc Israel Team
JDoc Israel is affiliated with JDoc365, a leading private medical centre in London. We bring the same high standard of private GP care to Jerusalem.
Comments