Medical Letters and Records for Bahrain

U.S. Medical Documents for Patients, Families and Employers in Bahrain

People moving to Bahrain bring their medical history with them, and Bahraini hospitals, schools, employers and insurers sometimes need parts of it in an official form. A letter from a U.S. physician or a set of hospital records becomes an authenticated document once it is signed before a notary and apostilled.

Continuing treatment in Bahrain

Patients with ongoing conditions, such as cardiac, oncology, pediatric or chronic care, often want a Bahraini specialist to have a clear summary from their U.S. physician: diagnosis, treatment so far, current medications and recommended follow-up. A typed treatment summary is usually more useful than hundreds of pages of records, and costs far less to translate. Bahraini hospitals generally review clinical documents for treatment without needing an apostille, but an authenticated letter helps when the summary also supports an insurance claim, a referral or an employer request.

Medicines you bring with you

Bahrain controls the import of certain medicines, particularly narcotic and psychotropic drugs, and may require prior approval for some of them. Travelers should carry a physician’s letter naming each medicine, its dose and the medical need, together with the prescription, and should check the current rules of Bahrain’s health regulator before travelling, especially for controlled medicines or quantities beyond a short supply.

Schools, employers and insurers

Schools in Bahrain may ask for immunization records and, for children with additional needs, medical or psychological reports to plan support. Employers may need medical certificates for leave or fitness for specific duties, and insurers may want reports supporting a claim for treatment received in the U.S. Note that work and residence visas in Bahrain typically involve a medical examination in Bahrain itself, which a U.S. letter does not replace.

Notary and apostille

The physician signs the letter on practice or hospital letterhead, including their credentials and license number, before a U.S. notary. For hospital records, the custodian of records signs a certification of true copies before a notary. The Secretary of State of the notary’s state then issues the apostille. Bahrain has accepted apostilles since December 31, 2013, so there is no embassy step. A certified Arabic translation is made in Bahrain where an office requires one. Medical files are personal, so send each recipient only what it needs.