πŸ₯ Healthcare Overview

System: Very limited public healthcare. Hospitals are underfunded and poorly equipped. A few private clinics in Nouakchott offer marginally better care. Outside the capital, medical facilities are extremely basic or nonexistent.

Quality: β˜…β˜†β˜†β˜†β˜† (1/5)

Healthcare is very limited. Chronic shortage of doctors, equipment, and medications. Arabic and French are the medical languages. English-speaking doctors are very rare. Bring a comprehensive medical kit and all needed medications.

πŸ’‘ Medical Tourism

Mauritania is not a medical tourism destination. Patients needing specialist care travel to Dakar (Senegal), Casablanca (Morocco), or Paris.

🏨 Hospitals & Clinics Near Tourist Areas

Recommended facilities for travelers β€” English-speaking staff available at most listed locations.

Centre Hospitalier National (CHN) ⚠️ Limited English

πŸ“ Near: Nouakchott (city center)

πŸ“ž +222-4525-2135

Main public hospital in Mauritania. French and Arabic speaking. Basic equipment. Can be overcrowded.

Clinique Chiva ⚠️ Limited English

πŸ“ Near: Nouakchott

πŸ“ž +222-4525-4242

Private clinic used by expatriates. Better equipment than public facilities. French and Arabic speaking.

Polyclinique Teyarett ⚠️ Limited English

πŸ“ Near: Nouakchott (Teyarett district)

πŸ“ž +222-4524-1818

Private medical center. General consultations and basic emergency care. French-speaking.

Hôpital Cheikh Zayed ⚠️ Limited English

πŸ“ Near: Nouakchott

πŸ“ž +222-4525-2032

Relatively newer hospital. Better infrastructure than CHN. French and Arabic speaking.

πŸ’Š Pharmacy Guide

Access: limited

Hours: Pharmacies in Nouakchott open 8am-6pm, some with a midday break. Very limited pharmacy access outside the capital.

Prescription rules: Prescription enforcement is minimal. Medication quality and authenticity are concerns. French or Arabic prescriptions expected. Bring all medications from home.

Available Over-the-Counter

  • paracetamol
  • ibuprofen
  • oral rehydration salts
  • antimalarials
  • antihistamines
  • insect repellent
  • sunscreen
  • water purification tablets

πŸ—£οΈ Useful Pharmacy Phrases

πŸ’‘ Handy phrases at the pharmacy

  • I need medicine for a headache: Ψ£Ψ­ΨͺΨ§Ψ¬ دواؑ Ω„Ω„Ψ΅Ψ―Ψ§ΨΉ / J'ai besoin d'un mΓ©dicament pour le mal de tΓͺte (ah-TAHJ dah-WAH lil-soo-DAH (Arabic) / zhay buh-ZWAHN duhn may-dee-kah-MAHN poor luh mal duh TET (French))
  • I have a stomachache: ΨΉΩ†Ψ―ΩŠ Ψ£Ω„Ω… في Ψ§Ω„Ω…ΨΉΨ―Ψ© / J'ai mal Γ  l'estomac (AN-dee AH-lam fil-MAH-ee-dah (Arabic) / zhay mal ah less-toh-MAH (French))
  • I have allergies: ΨΉΩ†Ψ―ΩŠ حساسية / J'ai des allergies (AN-dee hah-SAH-see-yah (Arabic) / zhay dayz ah-lair-ZHEE (French))
  • Where is the nearest pharmacy?: Ψ£ΩŠΩ† Ψ£Ω‚Ψ±Ψ¨ Ψ΅ΩŠΨ―Ω„ΩŠΨ©ΨŸ / OΓΉ est la pharmacie la plus proche? (AY-nah AK-rab say-dah-LEE-yah (Arabic) / oo ay lah far-mah-SEE lah plew PROSH (French))
  • I need a doctor: Ψ£Ψ­ΨͺΨ§Ψ¬ طبيب / J'ai besoin d'un mΓ©decin (ah-TAHJ tah-BEEB (Arabic) / zhay buh-ZWAHN duhn mayd-SAHN (French))

πŸ’‘ Tips

Pharmacies in Nouakchott stock basic medications but supply is inconsistent. Counterfeit drugs are a concern. French and Arabic spoken at pharmacies. Bring all essential medications from home.

πŸͺ Pharmacy Chains You’ll See

Look for these storefronts:

  • Pharmacie de l'AmitiΓ© — Green cross sign. Nouakchott city center

πŸ’Š Common OTC Medications by Local Brand

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

  • paracetamol/acetaminophen → Doliprane / ParacΓ©tamol
    French brands dominate. Doliprane is the most recognized. Arabic-labeled versions also available.
  • ibuprofen → Advil / IbuprofΓ¨ne
    Available but supply inconsistent. Bring your own.
  • loperamide (anti-diarrheal) → Imodium
    May be available in Nouakchott pharmacies. Essential to bring your own supply.

πŸ’‰ Medications & Restrictions

Carry a doctor's letter listing all medications, ideally in French or Arabic. Keep medications in original packaging. Bring generous extra supplies. A comprehensive personal medical kit is essential.

Controlled / Restricted Substances

🚫 Watch out for these

  • ⚠️ Narcotic medications β€” Carry a doctor's letter in French or Arabic. Keep in original packaging.
  • ⚠️ Psychotropic medications β€” Bring documentation from prescribing physician. Islamic law influences drug regulations.
  • ⚠️ Alcohol-based medications β€” Mauritania is an Islamic republic. Alcohol is prohibited. Alcohol-based medicines may be scrutinized at customs.

🦷 Dental Care

Availability: Very limited. A few dental clinics in Nouakchott only.

Typical cost range: $20-50 for consultation; $40-150 for procedures

Dental care quality is poor. Equipment may not meet international standards. French/Arabic speaking only.

🦷 Dental emergency?

CHN has basic dental services. Private clinics in Nouakchott may offer faster service. Serious dental issues require evacuation.

πŸ›‘οΈ Travel Insurance

⚠️ Strongly recommended

Average cost: $50-100/week

πŸ’‘ Tip

Comprehensive travel insurance with medical evacuation is absolutely essential. Local healthcare is inadequate for serious conditions. Evacuation to Dakar, Casablanca, or Paris costs $40,000-120,000.

πŸ“‹ How to File an Insurance Claim

Hospitals require upfront cash payment (Mauritanian Ouguiya). Facilities may not provide standardized receipts. Keep all documentation. Claims may require translation from French or Arabic.

πŸ’΅ Typical Out-of-Pocket Costs

Estimated cash prices (USD):

  • Doctor visit (private clinic): $15-40
  • ER visit (no admission): $25-80
  • Overnight hospital stay: $40-120
  • Ambulance call-out: $15-40

Estimated typical out-of-pocket costs. Local currency is Mauritanian Ouguiya (MRU). Costs are low but quality is correspondingly limited.

🚁 Medical Evacuation

Medical evacuation insurance is absolutely essential. Local healthcare cannot handle serious emergencies. Dakar is the nearest city with adequate hospitals. Desert evacuations may involve military or charter aircraft.

Primary destination: Dakar (Senegal)

Secondary destination: Casablanca (Morocco) or Paris

Typical cost band: $40,000-120,000

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

πŸ’‰ Vaccinations

Recommended

  • 🟑 Yellow Fever (for southern regions)
  • 🟑 Hepatitis A
  • 🟑 Hepatitis B
  • 🟑 Typhoid
  • 🟑 Meningococcal meningitis
  • 🟑 Rabies
  • 🟑 Cholera
  • 🟑 Routine vaccinations

Yellow fever certificate required if arriving from an endemic country; recommended for travel to southern regions. Malaria risk exists in the south β€” antimalarial prophylaxis recommended. Meningitis risk in dry season.

🚰 Water & Food Safety

❌ Tap water is NOT safe β€” drink bottled water only

Tap water is not safe to drink anywhere in Mauritania. Always use bottled or purified water. In desert regions, bring ample water supplies. Use bottled water for brushing teeth.

Food Safety Tips

Eat only thoroughly cooked food served hot. Avoid raw salads and unpeeled fruits. Traditional dishes like thieboudienne (fish and rice) are generally safe when freshly prepared at restaurants. Avoid street food. Camel milk and meat should be well cooked.

🧠 Mental Health Resources

πŸ†˜ Crisis Line: No dedicated crisis line available

International crisis support: findahelpline.com β€” worldwide directory of crisis lines

English-speaking therapists: Virtually none. French/Arabic-speaking counselors very limited.

Mental health services are almost nonexistent. Bring all psychiatric medications from home with ample supply.

β™Ώ Accessibility

Accessibility infrastructure is virtually nonexistent. Roads are sandy or unpaved. Buildings lack ramps and wheelchair access.

Hospital accessibility: Hospitals lack proper wheelchair-accessible facilities.

Accessible transport: No accessible public transport. Sand-covered roads make wheelchair use extremely difficult. 4x4 vehicles essential outside Nouakchott.

πŸ’‘ Accessibility tips

Travelers with mobility impairments will face extreme challenges. Desert tourism (Chinguetti, Ouadane) involves rough terrain. Personal assistant and adapted vehicle essential. Plan all logistics far in advance.

🫁 COVID & Respiratory Illness

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

Mask policy: No mask mandates.

Testing availability: Limited testing available at hospitals in Nouakchott.

Malaria, heat-related illness, dehydration, and waterborne diseases are far greater health concerns. Desert travel poses unique risks (heat stroke, sandstorms).

🚨 Emergency Contacts

πŸ†˜ Emergency: 17 (police), 18 (fire), 101 (ambulance in Nouakchott)

πŸ“š 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.