Azerbaijan

Language

Azerbaijani; Russian is widely understood

Keep a translation of your diagnosis, treatment plan and medication list in this language or in English. Many hospitals offer interpreters — ask in advance.

Health system overview

Residents are covered by compulsory health insurance run by the State Agency on Mandatory Health Insurance. Specialised haematology care is concentrated mainly in Baku; options in the regions are limited. In complex cases, treatment abroad is sometimes discussed.

Leukemia care: centres

More about centres in all countries →

Local foods

• Well-cooked hot dishAzerbaijanPlov (saffron rice)Well-cooked hot dish
• Well-cooked hot dishAzerbaijanDolma (stuffed vine leaves)Well-cooked hot dish
• Well-cooked hot dishAzerbaijanDushbara (dumpling soup)Well-cooked hot dish
• Well-cooked hot dishAzerbaijanPiti (lamb and chickpea stew)Well-cooked hot dish
• Well-cooked hot dishAzerbaijanQutab (thin filled flatbread)Well-cooked hot dish
• Well-cooked hot dishAzerbaijanDovga (yoghurt and herb soup)Well-cooked hot dish
• Well-cooked hot dishAzerbaijanKuku (herb frittata)Well-cooked hot dish
• Well-cooked hot dishAzerbaijanLavangi (walnut-stuffed chicken)Well-cooked hot dish
• Well-cooked hot dishAzerbaijanMerji shorbasi (red lentil soup)Well-cooked hot dish
• Well-cooked hot dishAzerbaijanToyug shorbasi (chicken soup with noodles)Well-cooked hot dish
• Well-cooked hot dishAzerbaijanKufta bozbash (meatball and chickpea soup)Well-cooked hot dish
• With care: in a safer versionAzerbaijanKhash (slow-boiled trotter broth)With care: in a safer version
• With care: in a safer versionAzerbaijanKhingal (dough squares with fried mince)With care: in a safer version
• Well-cooked hot dishAzerbaijanKalam dolmasi (stuffed cabbage leaves)Well-cooked hot dish
• Well-cooked hot dishAzerbaijanUch baji dolmasi (stuffed aubergine, pepper and tomato)Well-cooked hot dish
• Well-cooked hot dishAzerbaijanShah plov (crown plov baked in lavash)Well-cooked hot dish
• Well-cooked hot dishAzerbaijanShuyud plov (dill and broad bean plov)Well-cooked hot dish
• Well-cooked hot dishAzerbaijanFisinjan plov (meatballs in walnut-pomegranate sauce)Well-cooked hot dish
• Well-cooked hot dishAzerbaijanSabzi govurma (lamb stewed with herbs)Well-cooked hot dish
• Well-cooked hot dishAzerbaijanTurshu govurma (sweet-sour lamb with dried fruit)Well-cooked hot dish
• Well-cooked hot dishAzerbaijanLula kebab (minced lamb kebab)Well-cooked hot dish
• Well-cooked hot dishAzerbaijanTika kebab (lamb chunk kebab)Well-cooked hot dish
• Well-cooked hot dishAzerbaijanNara kababi (sturgeon kebab)Well-cooked hot dish
• Well-cooked hot dishAzerbaijanSaj ichi (meat and vegetables cooked on a saj)Well-cooked hot dish
• Well-cooked hot dishAzerbaijanToyug bozartmasi (chicken stewed with onion and tomato)Well-cooked hot dish
• Well-cooked hot dishAzerbaijanToyug chighirtmasi (chicken with eggs)Well-cooked hot dish
• Well-cooked hot dishAzerbaijanJiz-biz (lamb offal fry with potatoes)Well-cooked hot dish
• Well-cooked hot dishAzerbaijanPomidor-yumurta (eggs scrambled with tomatoes)Well-cooked hot dish
• Well-cooked hot dishAzerbaijanSudlu siyig (milk rice porridge)Well-cooked hot dish
• With care: in a safer versionAzerbaijanChoban salad (shepherd salad)With care: in a safer version
• Not in its traditional form with low immunityAzerbaijanMotal cheese (skin-ripened sheep cheese)Not in its traditional form with low immunity
• With care: in a safer versionAzerbaijanAyran (salted yoghurt drink)With care: in a safer version
• Well-cooked hot dishAzerbaijanShekerbura (walnut-filled pastry)Well-cooked hot dish
• Well-cooked hot dishAzerbaijanPakhlava (Baku layered walnut pastry)Well-cooked hot dish
• Well-cooked hot dishAzerbaijanFirni (rice-flour milk pudding)Well-cooked hot dish
• Well-cooked hot dishAzerbaijanDried fruit kompotWell-cooked hot dish
• Well-cooked hot dishAzerbaijanTandir breadWell-cooked hot dish

Azerbaijan: food database →

Food-safety habits

Wherever you live, the core rules with low immunity are the same: clean hands, keeping raw and cooked food apart, cooking thoroughly, chilling quickly and choosing pasteurised dairy. At local markets and street stalls, watch how food is stored. Ask your team whether tap water is fine for you; if unsure, use bottled or boiled water.

Hospital daily life

In many hospitals in this region a family member stays with the patient to help with daily care, and families often bring food from home. With low immunity, agree with the ward which food can be brought and how it should be prepared and stored. Fewer visitors, and none who are unwell, lowers the risk of infection.

Travel during treatment

• Talk to your care team before planning a trip — timing, blood counts and vaccines.
• Carry a doctor’s letter with your diagnosis, treatment plan and medication list (including in English).
• Pack medicines in original packaging, in hand luggage, with extra; some medicines have import rules.
• Get travel insurance that covers your existing condition and read the terms.
• Find the nearest haematology centre and the emergency number at your destination in advance.
• Live vaccines can be unsafe during treatment — ask your team before any vaccination.
• Ask your team about clot risk on long flights and move around when you can.

Related topics

• Leukemia care in different countries: an overview
• Food safety
• Fever: when to seek urgent care
• Visitors and public places
• Work, study and finances
• Step-by-step guide: from diagnosis to follow-up

Sources

1. GOV.UK — Azerbaijan
2. State Agency on Mandatory Health Insurance
3. GOV.UK — health: Azerbaijan
4. GOV.UK — foreign travel advice (emergency numbers and health)
5. European Commission — European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)