🇦🇬 Antigua and Barbuda Healthcare Guide
Mount St John's Medical Centre on Antigua is the country's only full hospital, and while it handles most emergencies, Barbuda has only a small clinic — anything serious there requires a transfer to Antigua by boat or air. Most providers expect payment at the time of service, so having your medical records and medication details saved and accessible helps a facility that has no link to overseas medical systems and limited time to take a detailed history.
Quick facts
- Emergency number: 112
- Healthcare system: mixed
- Average GP visit: $25 USD
- EHIC/GHIC accepted: No
- Language barrier: medium
Healthcare overview
Mount St John’s Medical Centre in St John’s is Antigua’s main hospital, providing emergency, inpatient, and outpatient care. Private clinics on the island handle routine consultations, but specialist care is limited. Serious cases are typically evacuated to Guadeloupe, Barbados, or Miami. GP visits at private clinics cost $40–75 USD.
Medical evacuation routes
For specialist treatment unavailable on the island, air evacuation to Barbados or Miami is standard. Guadeloupe is the nearest option for French-speaking patients.
Cash payment at clinics
Private clinics on Antigua expect upfront payment by cash or card. Public hospital emergency care may involve a registration fee.
Vaccinations
Recommended
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Typhoid
Prescriptions and pharmacies
Pharmacies in St John’s carry common medications, but specialist or uncommon prescriptions may be out of stock due to supply chain dependencies on imports. Carry your full medication supply for your stay, plus a buffer for any travel delays between islands.
Import-dependent stock
Medication availability on Antigua depends on regular shipments. Specialist drugs may have gaps between deliveries.
Tips for travellers
Mount St John’s Medical Centre covers general internal medicine, but chronic conditions requiring specialist follow-up (cardiology, oncology) exceed local capacity. Visitors managing ongoing conditions should have their treatment plan saved and accessible in English before arriving, as any referral to Barbados or Miami will require full documentation.
Barbados referral hub
Barbados (Queen Elizabeth Hospital) serves as the nearest specialist referral destination for several Eastern Caribbean islands.