🇦🇩 Andorra Healthcare Guide
Andorra has a single hospital — Hospital Nostra Senyora de Meritxell in Escaldes-Engordany — which handles most emergencies competently but refers complex cases to hospitals in Barcelona or Toulouse. Despite sitting between France and Spain, EHIC cards are not accepted here, so having your medical documents available in both Catalan and French covers you for either referral direction.
Quick facts
- Emergency number: 112
- Healthcare system: mixed
- Average GP visit: $40 USD
- EHIC/GHIC accepted: No
- Language barrier: medium
Healthcare overview
Andorra has one main hospital, Hospital Nostra Senyora de Meritxell in Escaldes-Engordany, which handles most inpatient and emergency care. For anything beyond its capabilities, patients are transferred to hospitals in Barcelona or Toulouse, both roughly three hours away. Walk-in consultations at the hospital or private clinics in Andorra la Vella are straightforward, though waits during ski season can be longer than expected.
Ski season demand
Winter sports injuries spike from December through March. The hospital and local clinics see higher volumes, so non-urgent visits are better scheduled for mornings.
Vaccinations
Recommended
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Typhoid
Prescriptions and pharmacies
Pharmacies in Andorra la Vella and Escaldes-Engordany are well-stocked with standard European medications, and prices are often lower than in neighbouring France or Spain due to Andorra’s tax structure. Controlled substances still require a valid prescription from an Andorran or EU-recognised doctor. Carry your full medication supply for the trip, as niche or specialist medications may need to be ordered from Barcelona.
Lower pharmacy prices
Andorra’s low-tax status means many medications cost less than in France or Spain. Bring your prescription to compare.
Tips for travellers
Hospital Nostra Senyora de Meritxell covers most routine chronic care monitoring, but specialist consultations in areas like cardiology, endocrinology, and oncology are limited and often referred to Hospital de la Vall d’Hebron in Barcelona. Visitors managing ongoing conditions should have their full treatment history saved and accessible before arriving, since transfer paperwork between Andorran and Spanish facilities can be slow without it.
Barcelona referral pathway
Complex specialist cases are typically transferred to Barcelona. Having your records in Spanish as well as English smooths the handoff.