🏥 Healthcare Overview

System: French healthcare system. As an overseas department of France, French Guiana has the same healthcare framework as mainland France. Centre Hospitalier de Cayenne (Andrée Rosemon Hospital) is the main facility. French social security (Sécurité Sociale) covers residents. Tourists pay out-of-pocket and claim from insurance. Good quality care in Cayenne; very limited in interior rainforest regions.

Quality: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)

Healthcare in Cayenne and Kourou is good, operating under French standards. Andrée Rosemon Hospital is well-equipped. The interior (Amazonian rainforest) has very limited health posts staffed by rotating medical teams. For highly complex cases, evacuation to mainland France or Martinique may be needed. French is the sole language of healthcare; very little English spoken.

💡 Medical Tourism

Not a medical tourism destination. French Guiana attracts visitors for the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, Amazonian rainforest expeditions, and Creole culture. The Iles du Salut (including Devil's Island) are popular historic sites.

🏨 Hospitals & Clinics Near Tourist Areas

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

Centre Hospitalier de Cayenne Andrée Rosemon ⚠️ Limited English

📍 Near: Cayenne (capital)

📞 +594 594 39 50 50

Main hospital in French Guiana. French-standard care. 24/7 emergency department. Well-equipped. French is the primary language.

Centre Médico-Chirurgical de Kourou (CMCK) ⚠️ Limited English

📍 Near: Kourou (near Space Centre)

📞 +594 594 32 76 76

Hospital serving Kourou and the Space Centre area. Good standard of care. Useful for visitors to the Guiana Space Centre.

Centre Hospitalier de l'Ouest Guyanais (CHOG) ⚠️ Limited English

📍 Near: Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni (western border)

📞 +594 594 34 88 88

Regional hospital serving western French Guiana. Gateway to Maroni River trips. French spoken.

💊 Pharmacy Guide

Access: easy

Hours: Pharmacies open 8am-12:30pm and 3pm-7pm weekdays, 8am-12pm Saturdays. Duty pharmacies (pharmacies de garde) available nights and weekends in Cayenne.

Prescription rules: French prescription system applies. Antibiotics require a prescription. Standard OTC medications available without prescription. Controlled substances require French or EU prescription documentation.

Available Over-the-Counter

  • paracetamol (Doliprane)
  • ibuprofen (Advil)
  • antihistamines
  • antacids
  • oral rehydration salts
  • insect repellent (essential)
  • sunscreen
  • antimalarial medications

🗣️ Useful Pharmacy Phrases

💡 Handy phrases at the pharmacy

  • I need headache medicine: J'ai besoin d'un médicament contre le mal de tête
  • I have a stomachache: J'ai mal au ventre
  • I have allergies: J'ai des allergies
  • Where is the nearest pharmacy?: Où est la pharmacie la plus proche?
  • I need a doctor: J'ai besoin d'un médecin

💡 Tips

Pharmacies are well-stocked and operate to French standards. French is essential for communication. French brand medications are standard. Antimalarial prophylaxis is essential for rainforest trips and should be arranged before arrival. Insect repellent with DEET is critical.

🏪 Pharmacy Chains You’ll See

Look for these storefronts:

  • Pharmacie de Cayenne (various) — Green cross pharmacy sign. Cayenne
  • Pharmacie de Kourou — Green cross sign. Kourou
  • Pharmacie du Maroni — Green cross sign. Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni

💊 Common OTC Medications by Local Brand

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

  • paracetamol/acetaminophen → Doliprane / Efferalgan / Dafalgan
    French brand names standard. Widely available.
  • ibuprofen → Advil / Nurofen / Ibuprofène
    Available at all pharmacies.
  • loperamide (anti-diarrheal) → Imodium / Lopéramide
    Available over the counter at pharmacies.

💉 Medications & Restrictions

Carry a doctor's letter in French for controlled medications. EU/EEA citizens can use the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) but may still need to pay upfront and claim reimbursement. Keep medications in original packaging.

Controlled / Restricted Substances

🚫 Watch out for these

  • ⚠️ Opioid medications — Controlled under French law. Carry doctor's letter (preferably in French) and original packaging.
  • 🚫 Cannabis/CBD products — Illegal under French law. Do not bring.
  • ⚠️ Benzodiazepines — Controlled. Carry prescription documentation.

🦷 Dental Care

Availability: Good dental care in Cayenne and Kourou. Multiple private dental practices operating to French standards.

Typical cost range: $50-200 USD for basic procedures (French pricing)

Dental care follows French standards and pricing. Quality is good in urban areas. French is the language of care. EU/EEA citizens may use EHIC for partial coverage.

🦷 Dental emergency?

Visit the hospital emergency department or contact a private dental practice in Cayenne. SOS Dentaire may operate emergency dental services.

🛡️ Travel Insurance

⚠️ Strongly recommended

Average cost: $25-50/week

💡 Tip

Recommended for all visitors. EU/EEA citizens with EHIC get some coverage but travel insurance is still advisable. Essential for rainforest and river expeditions where medical evacuation may be needed. Ensure coverage for jungle activities and remote area evacuation.

📋 How to File an Insurance Claim

French healthcare system applies. Pay upfront and receive a feuille de soins (care sheet) for reimbursement. EU/EEA citizens with EHIC may get partial reimbursement. Non-EU visitors file claims with travel insurance. Hospitals provide detailed documentation in French. Keep all receipts and medical records.

💵 Typical Out-of-Pocket Costs

Estimated cash prices (USD):

  • Doctor visit (private clinic): $30-70
  • ER visit (no admission): $100-400
  • Overnight hospital stay: $300-1000
  • Ambulance call-out: $50-300

French pricing applies. Euro (EUR) is the currency. Costs are higher than mainland France due to remoteness. EHIC provides partial coverage for EU/EEA citizens.

🚁 Medical Evacuation

Medical evacuation for complex cases typically goes to Martinique or mainland France. Interior rainforest evacuations require helicopter or boat extraction, adding significant cost and time. The French military can assist with remote evacuations.

Primary destination: Fort-de-France, Martinique or Paris, France

Secondary destination: Paramaribo, Suriname or Belém, Brazil

Typical cost band: $20,000-80,000

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

💉 Vaccinations

Required

  • 🔴 Yellow Fever (required for all travelers over 1 year of age)

Recommended

  • 🟡 Hepatitis A
  • 🟡 Hepatitis B
  • 🟡 Typhoid
  • 🟡 Malaria prophylaxis (required for rainforest interior)
  • 🟡 Rabies (for extended stays in the interior)

Yellow fever vaccination is MANDATORY for entry to French Guiana. Carry your International Certificate of Vaccination (yellow card). Malaria is present in the interior rainforest but not in coastal cities. Antimalarial prophylaxis is essential for any inland travel.

🚰 Water & Food Safety

⚠️ Use caution — bottled water recommended in some areas

Tap water in Cayenne, Kourou, and Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni is treated and generally safe. Outside urban areas, water is unsafe and should be boiled or purified. In the interior rainforest, always treat water. Bottled water is widely available in towns.

Food Safety Tips

Food safety is good in urban areas, following French standards. Cayenne has excellent Creole, French, and multicultural cuisine. Bouillon d'awara (a traditional Easter stew) is a renowned local specialty. Fresh fish, tropical fruits, and cassava are staples. Exercise caution with food in remote interior areas. Market food in Cayenne and Saint-Laurent is generally safe.

🧠 Mental Health Resources

🆘 Crisis Line: 3114 (French national suicide prevention number)

International crisis support: 112 (European emergency number)

English-speaking therapists: Very rare. French-speaking psychologists and psychiatrists available in Cayenne.

Mental health services follow the French system. Psychiatric services available at Cayenne hospital. Private psychologists practice in Cayenne. All services in French.

♿ Accessibility

French accessibility laws apply but implementation varies. Urban areas in Cayenne have some accessible infrastructure. The interior rainforest is inaccessible for mobility-impaired travelers.

Hospital accessibility: Hospitals follow French accessibility standards with wheelchair access and elevators.

Accessible transport: Urban buses in Cayenne have limited accessibility. Taxis can be arranged. Interior travel (pirogue river boats, forest trails) is not accessible.

💡 Accessibility tips

Cayenne and Kourou are the most accessible areas. French accessibility laws provide some protections. The rainforest interior is not suitable for travelers with significant mobility challenges. Contact accommodations and tour operators in advance.

🫁 COVID & Respiratory Illness

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

Mask policy: No general mask mandates. Healthcare facilities may require masks per French health directives.

Testing availability: COVID testing available at hospitals and laboratories in Cayenne.

French Guiana follows mainland France's health protocols. Check current French government advisories.

🚨 Emergency Contacts

🆘 Emergency: 15 (SAMU medical), 17 (police), 18 (fire), 112 (European emergency)

📞 112 also works as the universal EU emergency number

📚 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.