🏥 Healthcare Overview

System: Public healthcare system with very limited resources. CHU Sylvanus Olympio in Lomé is the main hospital. Private clinics in Lomé offer better care. Rural healthcare is extremely basic. French-based medical system.

Quality: ★★☆☆☆ (2/5)

Healthcare quality is low by international standards. CHU Sylvanus Olympio in Lomé is the largest facility but faces chronic equipment and supply shortages. Private clinics in Lomé offer better care with shorter wait times. Outside Lomé, medical facilities are very basic. Serious conditions require evacuation to Ghana (Accra) or Europe.

💡 Medical Tourism

Togo is not a medical tourism destination. Patients requiring advanced care are evacuated to Accra (Ghana), Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire), or European cities.

🏨 Hospitals & Clinics Near Tourist Areas

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

CHU Sylvanus Olympio ⚠️ Limited English

📍 Near: Lomé city center

📞 +228-22-21-25-01

Main public hospital and teaching hospital. French-speaking. Emergency department available but often overcrowded. Equipment limitations. Largest facility in the country.

Clinique Biasa ⚠️ Limited English

📍 Near: Lomé

📞 +228-22-21-63-10

Private clinic offering better care than public facilities. French-speaking. Cash payment typically required upfront.

Polyclinique Internationale Saint-Joseph ⚠️ Limited English

📍 Near: Lomé

📞 +228-22-26-18-98

Private facility with reasonable standards. French-speaking. Preferred by expatriates and international organizations.

💊 Pharmacy Guide

Access: limited

Hours: Pharmacies open 8am-12:30pm and 3pm-7pm weekdays, Saturday mornings. Duty pharmacies in Lomé for after-hours. Very limited outside the capital.

Prescription rules: Prescription medications officially require a doctor's ordonnance, but enforcement is inconsistent. Many medications are sold freely. Bring all needed medications from home as availability is unreliable and counterfeit drugs are common.

Available Over-the-Counter

  • paracétamol
  • ibuprofène
  • antimalarials
  • oral rehydration salts
  • insect repellent
  • water purification tablets
  • antihistamines

🗣️ 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

Bring all medications you need from home. Counterfeit drugs are a significant concern — only use established pharmacies (look for the green cross sign). Pharmacies in Lomé carry French medications. Staff speak French. Stock can be unreliable.

🏪 Pharmacy Chains You’ll See

Look for these storefronts:

  • Pharmacie de Garde (duty pharmacy system) — Green cross sign. Rotating duty pharmacies in Lomé for after-hours service
  • Pharmacies in Lomé — Green cross sign. Main commercial areas in Lomé

💊 Common OTC Medications by Local Brand

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

  • paracetamol/acetaminophen → Paracétamol / Doliprane
    Most commonly available medication. Buy only from established pharmacies to avoid counterfeits.
  • ibuprofen → Ibuprofène / Advil
    Available at pharmacies in Lomé. Supply may be inconsistent.
  • loperamide (anti-diarrheal) → Imodium
    Available at larger pharmacies. Bring your own supply to be safe.

💉 Medications & Restrictions

Bring prescriptions (French translations ideal), a doctor's letter listing all medications, yellow fever vaccination certificate (required), travel insurance documentation, and copies of all important medical records.

Controlled / Restricted Substances

🚫 Watch out for these

  • ⚠️ Controlled narcotics — Carry a doctor's letter and original prescription. Keep medications in original packaging.
  • ⚠️ Psychotropic medications — Requires documentation for import. Carry prescriptions and a doctor's letter.

🦷 Dental Care

Availability: Very limited. A few dental clinics in Lomé. No dental services in rural areas.

Typical cost range: $20-80 USD per visit

Dental care quality is basic. Sterilization standards may not meet international norms. Address all dental issues before traveling.

🦷 Dental emergency?

For dental emergencies, seek a private clinic in Lomé. Consider traveling to Accra, Ghana for better dental care if time allows.

🛡️ Travel Insurance

⚠️ Strongly recommended

Average cost: $55-90/week

💡 Tip

Essential for travel to Togo. Ensure coverage includes medical evacuation to Accra (Ghana), South Africa, or Europe. Local facilities cannot handle serious conditions. Cash payment is the norm at all facilities.

📋 How to File an Insurance Claim

All facilities require upfront cash payment. Obtain detailed receipts and medical reports in French. Insurance claims are submitted after returning home. Keep all documentation and request translations if needed for your insurer.

💵 Typical Out-of-Pocket Costs

Estimated cash prices (XOF (West African CFA Franc), prices shown in USD equivalent):

  • Doctor visit (private clinic): $15-40
  • ER visit (no admission): $30-100
  • Overnight hospital stay: $50-200
  • Ambulance call-out: $20-80

Medical costs are very low by international standards but quality is correspondingly limited. Private clinics cost more but offer significantly better care.

🚁 Medical Evacuation

Accra, Ghana is the nearest city with better medical facilities (2-3 hours by road). For serious conditions, evacuation to South Africa or Europe may be needed. Ensure travel insurance covers evacuation from West Africa.

Primary destination: Accra, Ghana

Secondary destination: Paris, France

Typical cost band: $20,000-100,000

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

💉 Vaccinations

Required

  • 🔴 Yellow fever

Recommended

  • 🟡 Hepatitis A
  • 🟡 Hepatitis B
  • 🟡 Typhoid
  • 🟡 Meningococcal meningitis
  • 🟡 Rabies
  • 🟡 Malaria prophylaxis
  • 🟡 Routine vaccinations (MMR, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, varicella, polio, flu)

Yellow fever vaccination is REQUIRED for all travelers. Malaria is widespread — take prophylaxis, sleep under insecticide-treated mosquito nets, and use repellent. Consult a travel medicine clinic 4-6 weeks before departure.

🚰 Water & Food Safety

❌ Tap water is NOT safe — drink bottled water only

Tap water is NOT safe to drink anywhere in Togo. Use only bottled or purified water for drinking, brushing teeth, and making ice. Boil water if bottled water is unavailable. Avoid ice in drinks unless confirmed purified.

Food Safety Tips

Eat only thoroughly cooked food served hot. Avoid raw vegetables, salads, and unpeeled fruits unless you wash and peel them yourself. Street food is popular but carries higher risk. Stick to busy vendors where food turnover is high. Wash hands frequently.

🧠 Mental Health Resources

🆘 Crisis Line: No dedicated mental health crisis line available.

International crisis support: Contact your embassy for referrals or use international telehealth services.

English-speaking therapists: Extremely limited. Most practitioners speak French only.

Mental health services are very limited in Togo. Significant cultural stigma exists. CHU Sylvanus Olympio has a psychiatric department but resources are minimal. Telehealth with your home provider is the best option for ongoing support.

♿ Accessibility

Accessibility infrastructure is extremely limited throughout Togo.

Hospital accessibility: Hospitals have minimal accessibility features. Wheelchair access is not standard.

Accessible transport: No accessible public transport. Roads are often in poor condition. Motorcycle taxis (zémidjans) are the most common transport but not accessible.

💡 Accessibility tips

Travelers with mobility challenges should plan very carefully. Hire local assistance. Most buildings, including hotels, lack elevators and ramps. Contact accommodations in advance.

🫁 COVID & Respiratory Illness

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

Mask policy: No mandatory mask requirements. May be requested in healthcare facilities.

Testing availability: Limited COVID testing available at CHU Sylvanus Olympio and some private labs in Lomé.

Healthcare capacity for respiratory illness is very limited. Bring personal health supplies including masks and hand sanitizer.

🚨 Emergency Contacts

🆘 Emergency: 117 (police), 118 (fire), 191 (ambulance/SAMU). Emergency services are limited — go directly to a hospital if possible.

📚 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.