Is there a doctor in the country?

If you find yourself in desperate need of medical attention, try an embassy clinic or private establishment first (see list to the right for Warsaw). You've got a greater chance that someone will speak your language, and the service and the conditions will (probably) be better. Most of the hospitals and clinics listed to the right can scare up someone who will speak either English, German, French or Spanish.

If you do try one of the local offerings, call 911 first and they'll direct you to the hospital which is on-call. If you're habituated to western medicine, note that they do things a little differently around here. A favorite rejoinder in Poland is 'but you didn't ask', so if you want information, expect to ask for it. A second rule of thumb is 'cash up front'. Poland's restaurants may be credit-card friendly, but some of its hospitals are not.

Remember to get receipts. Most insurance companies will not reimburse you without them. Maybe you know this already.

My prescription's run out

If you don't need a doctor, but simply some drugs, find an 'apteka'. They're marked with a green cross on a white background, and if you cannot locate someone who understands you, show them your empty pill bottle with a painful grimace.