Dispensary

For travelers

Sick, injured, or worried while visiting Arugam Bay?

We're a 24-hour walk-in clinic right on Panama Road, used to seeing surfers, backpackers, and visitors from every country. Most problems travelers come in with are minor and easy to treat. Walk in any time.

  • Open 24 hours
  • English-speaking
  • Walk-in, no appointment
  • Receipts in English for insurance
  • Right next to Main Point

Common conditions we treat in travelers

Surf injuries

Reef cuts, fin gashes, surfer's ear, jellyfish stings, sea urchin spines, wipeout sprains.

Stomach problems

Traveler's diarrhea, food poisoning, dehydration, vomiting, severe cramps.

Fevers

Including same-day dengue testing. Most fevers in Arugam Bay are viral and resolve in days.

Skin issues

Tropical rashes, fungal infections, allergic reactions, mosquito-bite infections, sunburn, heat rash.

Ear, nose, throat

Swimmer's ear, surfer's ear, sinus infections, sore throats, ear blockages.

Heat illness

Heat exhaustion, severe sunburn, heat stroke, IV rehydration.

Wounds

Cleaning, stitches, dressings, tetanus boosters, redressing during your stay.

Animal bites

Dog, monkey, cat bites. Rabies post-exposure assessment and vaccination.

Allergic reactions

From mild rashes to anaphylaxis. We carry adrenaline.

Respiratory

Coughs, bronchitis, asthma flare-ups in humid weather.

Eye problems

Conjunctivitis, foreign bodies, sun damage, contact-lens issues.

General consultations

Anything else. If we can't treat it, we'll tell you exactly who can.

What it costs

Care in Sri Lanka is far cheaper than in most Western countries. A consultation at our clinic is a small fraction of what the same visit would cost in Europe, North America, or the Gulf. Pharmacy items are charged at standard local rates.

We don't quote exact prices online because they change with currency rates and supply, but you can call ahead and we'll tell you before you walk in.

Cash is accepted in Sri Lankan Rupees, US Dollars, Euros, and most major currencies. Card payments are accepted for most visits. Receipts are issued in English with full itemisation so your travel insurance back home can process the claim.

Languages we work in

We're used to communicating across languages. Our team speaks English, Sinhala, and Tamil fluently, and we use written translation tools for everything else. This website is available in twelve languages.

If you're more comfortable in your own language, message us on WhatsApp — text translates more reliably than a phone call.

Languages we handle daily through translation tools: Hebrew, Russian, Arabic, German, French, Spanish, Mandarin, Dutch, Hungarian, and several others.

Bring this with you

  • · Your passport, or a photo of it
  • · Your travel insurance card, or its emergency phone number
  • · A list of any medications you currently take, with dosages
  • · Any prescription you're hoping to refill
  • · A friend or fellow traveler, if you're feeling unwell

How to find us

Panama Rd, Arugam Bay 32500, Sri Lanka

  • Main Point: 2 min by tuk-tuk, 8 min walk
  • Whiskey Point: 10 min by tuk-tuk
  • Peanut Farm: 20 min by tuk-tuk
  • Pottuvil town: 8 min by tuk-tuk
  • Pottuvil Lagoon: 12 min by tuk-tuk

Tuk-tuk tip

Ask for "The Dispensary, Panama Road, near Main Point." Any local driver will know it. Fare from anywhere in the bay should be 200–500 LKR.

When to call us vs when to call 1990

Call us

+94 77 757 6126

  • · You can walk or be helped to walk
  • · Fever, cuts, stomach problems, infections, rashes, sea injuries
  • · You need a prescription refilled
  • · You're not sure what's wrong but feel off
  • · You want to ask anything

Call 1990

Free national ambulance

  • · Unconscious or breathing trouble
  • · Severe bleeding that won't stop
  • · Suspected heart attack or stroke
  • · Major road accident
  • · Suspected snake bite
  • · Severe allergic reaction
  • · Seizures or sudden confusion

After calling 1990, call us as well — we can give first aid guidance on the phone and coordinate with the hospital.

Travel insurance claims — how we help

Itemised English-language receipts at every visit. Medical reports written the same day on request, in English, with diagnosis and treatment plan stated clearly.

Our staff can complete most insurer forms directly. If your insurer needs to speak to a doctor, we can take the call.

For larger claims (hospital admission, evacuation), call your insurer's 24-hour assistance line first — they'll often want to coordinate care directly.

Request a callback

We'll get back to you within a few hours during the day.

Preferred contact

For emergencies, please call us directly on +94 77 757 6126 or call 1990 for an ambulance. This form is for non-urgent questions only and replies usually come within a few hours during the day.

Walk in, day or night.

No appointment. No referral. We're here.