🏥 Healthcare Overview

System: Public healthcare is available but limited. Hospital Agostinho Neto in Praia is the main facility. Private clinics on Sal and Santiago offer better care for tourists. Smaller islands have only basic health centers.

Quality: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)

Moderate healthcare for a small island nation. Hospitals in Praia and Mindelo handle routine cases. Portuguese is the medical language. Some doctors speak English or French. Serious conditions require evacuation to Lisbon or Dakar.

💡 Medical Tourism

Cape Verde is not a medical tourism destination. Patients needing specialist care travel to Lisbon (Portugal) or Dakar (Senegal).

🏨 Hospitals & Clinics Near Tourist Areas

Recommended facilities for travelers — English-speaking staff available at most listed locations.

Hospital Agostinho Neto ⚠️ Limited English

📍 Near: Praia, Santiago Island

📞 +238-261-2462

Main national hospital. Largest facility in Cape Verde. Portuguese-speaking. Emergency department. Best equipped hospital in the country.

Hospital Baptista de Sousa ⚠️ Limited English

📍 Near: Mindelo, São Vicente Island

📞 +238-232-7700

Second-largest hospital. Serves São Vicente and surrounding islands. Portuguese-speaking.

Hospital Regional de Santiago Norte ⚠️ Limited English

📍 Near: Assomada, Santiago Island (inland)

📞 +238-265-1130

Regional hospital serving northern Santiago. Basic emergency care.

Delegacia de Saúde de Sal ⚠️ Limited English

📍 Near: Espargos, Sal Island (main tourist island)

📞 +238-241-1130

Health center on Sal Island. Basic care for tourists. For serious issues, transfer to Praia or evacuation is needed.

💊 Pharmacy Guide

Access: moderate

Hours: Pharmacies open 8am-7pm weekdays, 8am-1pm Saturday. Duty pharmacies (farmácia de serviço) operate after hours on rotation.

Prescription rules: Prescriptions required for antibiotics and controlled substances. Portuguese-language prescriptions expected. Many basic medications available OTC.

Available Over-the-Counter

  • paracetamol
  • ibuprofen
  • antihistamines
  • antacids
  • oral rehydration salts
  • sunscreen
  • insect repellent

🗣️ Useful Pharmacy Phrases

💡 Handy phrases at the pharmacy

  • I need medicine for a headache: Preciso de medicamento para dor de cabeça (preh-SEE-zoo deh meh-dee-kah-MEN-too PAH-rah dor deh kah-BEH-sah)
  • I have a stomachache: Tenho dor de estômago (TEN-yoo dor deh esh-TOH-mah-goo)
  • I have allergies: Tenho alergias (TEN-yoo ah-ler-ZHEE-ahsh)
  • Where is the nearest pharmacy?: Onde fica a farmácia mais próxima? (OHN-deh FEE-kah ah far-MAH-see-ah mysh PROH-see-mah)
  • I need a doctor: Preciso de um médico (preh-SEE-zoo deh oom MEH-dee-koo)

💡 Tips

Pharmacies on Sal, Santiago, and São Vicente are reasonably stocked. Smaller islands have limited options. Portuguese is the primary language. Bring specialty medications from home.

🏪 Pharmacy Chains You’ll See

Look for these storefronts:

  • Farmácia Central — Green cross sign. Praia city center
  • Farmácia Moderna — Green cross sign. Mindelo, São Vicente

💊 Common OTC Medications by Local Brand

Knowing the local brand name makes asking for common over-the-counter medications much easier.

  • paracetamol/acetaminophen → Ben-u-ron / Paracetamol
    Portuguese brands dominate. Ben-u-ron is the most common brand.
  • ibuprofen → Brufen / Ibuprofeno
    Available at pharmacies in major towns.
  • loperamide (anti-diarrheal) → Imodium
    Available at pharmacies in Praia and larger towns.

💉 Medications & Restrictions

Carry a doctor's letter listing all medications, ideally translated into Portuguese. Keep medications in original packaging. Bring extra supplies for inter-island travel.

Controlled / Restricted Substances

🚫 Watch out for these

  • ⚠️ Narcotic medications — Carry a doctor's letter, ideally in Portuguese. Keep in original packaging.
  • ⚠️ Psychotropic medications — Bring documentation from prescribing physician.

🦷 Dental Care

Availability: Limited dental care in Praia and Mindelo. Very few options on tourist islands like Sal.

Typical cost range: $30-70 for consultation; $50-200 for procedures

Private dental clinics in Praia offer basic care. Portuguese-speaking. Equipment varies.

🦷 Dental emergency?

Hospital Agostinho Neto in Praia has dental services. On Sal, ask at the health center for referrals.

🛡️ Travel Insurance

⚠️ Strongly recommended

Average cost: $30-60/week

💡 Tip

Strongly recommended. Medical evacuation to Lisbon or Dakar may be needed for serious conditions. Ensure coverage includes water sports and hiking activities.

📋 How to File an Insurance Claim

Hospitals require upfront payment (Cape Verdean Escudo or Euros accepted). Keep all receipts. Documentation may be in Portuguese — request English copies if possible.

💵 Typical Out-of-Pocket Costs

Estimated cash prices (USD):

  • Doctor visit (private clinic): $25-60
  • ER visit (no admission): $50-150
  • Overnight hospital stay: $80-250
  • Ambulance call-out: $20-60

Estimated typical out-of-pocket costs. Local currency is Cape Verdean Escudo (CVE), pegged to the Euro. Euros widely accepted.

🚁 Medical Evacuation

Medical evacuation insurance is recommended. Lisbon is the most common evacuation destination due to strong Portuguese ties and direct flights. Las Palmas is closer for emergencies from northern islands.

Primary destination: Lisbon (Portugal)

Secondary destination: Dakar (Senegal) or Las Palmas (Canary Islands)

Typical cost band: $30,000-100,000

Common providers: Global Rescue, MedJet, International SOS — compare current quotes and policy terms before relying on any single provider.

💉 Vaccinations

Recommended

  • 🟡 Hepatitis A
  • 🟡 Hepatitis B
  • 🟡 Typhoid
  • 🟡 Routine vaccinations

Yellow fever certificate required if arriving from an endemic country. Dengue and Zika have been reported. No malaria risk.

🚰 Water & Food Safety

⚠️ Use caution — bottled water recommended in some areas

Tap water quality varies by island. Bottled water is recommended, especially on smaller islands. Resorts on Sal and Boa Vista generally provide safe drinking water. Cape Verde is a dry country — water scarcity is common.

Food Safety Tips

Food at restaurants is generally safe. Fresh seafood is a highlight but ensure it is well cooked. Cachupa (national stew) is safe at restaurants. Be cautious with raw shellfish and street food.

🧠 Mental Health Resources

🆘 Crisis Line: No dedicated crisis line available

International crisis support: findahelpline.com — worldwide directory of crisis lines

English-speaking therapists: Very limited. Some Portuguese-speaking counselors in Praia.

Mental health services are limited. Bring all psychiatric medications from home.

♿ Accessibility

Accessibility is limited. Cobblestone streets in historic towns are challenging. Newer resorts on Sal have better accessibility.

Hospital accessibility: Hospital Agostinho Neto has basic wheelchair access. Smaller health centers are less accessible.

Accessible transport: No accessible public transport. Taxis available. Inter-island flights are the main transport between islands.

💡 Accessibility tips

Sal Island resorts have the best accessibility in Cape Verde. Historic towns like Cidade Velha have cobblestone streets. Confirm accessibility with specific hotels before booking.

🫁 COVID & Respiratory Illness

Entry requirements: No COVID testing or vaccination requirements for entry as of 2026.

Mask policy: No mask mandates.

Testing availability: Available at hospitals in Praia and Mindelo.

Dengue, sun exposure, and water scarcity are more relevant health concerns for travelers.

🚨 Emergency Contacts

🆘 Emergency: 132 (police), 131 (fire), 130 (ambulance)

📚 Sources & References

Data compiled from official government health sources, WHO, and traveler-reported information.

⚠️ This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional before traveling and verify current entry requirements with official sources.