🇬🇮 Gibraltar Healthcare Guide
Gibraltar runs an NHS-modelled public system through the Gibraltar Health Authority, with St Bernard's Hospital as the main facility. UK GHIC and EU EHIC are honoured for emergency and necessary care, English is the working language, and complex tertiary cases are referred to Spain or the UK under formal arrangements.
Quick facts
- Emergency number: 112
- Ambulance: 190
- Healthcare system: universal-public
- Average GP visit: $50 USD
- EHIC/GHIC accepted: Yes
- Language barrier: low
Healthcare overview
Gibraltar's healthcare runs through the Gibraltar Health Authority (GHA) — an NHS-modelled public system that residents access via a "GHA card." Visitors with UK GHIC or EU EHIC are entitled to medically necessary care on the same terms as residents, including A&E at St Bernard's Hospital and primary-care visits at the Primary Care Centre on Casemates Square.
St Bernard's Hospital is the territory's 200-bed general hospital. It runs full A&E, general and orthopaedic surgery, maternity, and most common specialties (cardiology, oncology day-care, nephrology). For complex tertiary care — transplant, advanced cardiac surgery, neuro-oncology — patients are referred to Spain (typically Hospital Costa del Sol or Hospital Vithas Xanit) or to the UK NHS under standing inter-jurisdictional agreements.
Pharmacies in Gibraltar follow UK prescribing rules; many British brand names are stocked, and most US generic equivalents are recognised. Travellers carrying controlled medications (opioids, ADHD stimulants, certain benzodiazepines) should bring a doctor's letter and keep medication in original labelled packaging — Gibraltar Customs follows UK practice on personal-use limits.
Vaccinations
Recommended
- Routine vaccines up to date
- Tetanus booster
- Hepatitis A (selectively)
Prescriptions and pharmacies
Gibraltar follows UK prescribing rules. Most prescriptions written in the UK or EU can be dispensed locally with appropriate documentation; US/non-EU prescriptions usually require a local GP visit to re-issue.
Controlled drugs (opioids, ADHD stimulants, certain benzodiazepines) require a doctor's letter and original-packaging declaration on entry. Gibraltar Customs applies UK-equivalent personal-use limits.