🇲🇿 Mozambique Healthcare Guide
Maputo has a small number of private clinics — Clinica de Sommerschield is the most commonly used by visitors — but healthcare outside the capital is severely limited, and even Maputo's public hospitals are overcrowded. The northern provinces and the Bazaruto Archipelago have very basic facilities. Carrying your full medication supply and having your medical summary saved in Portuguese and accessible offline covers you for a system where English is rarely spoken and the nearest capable facility from remote coastal areas may be a domestic flight away.
Quick facts
- Emergency number: 117
- Healthcare system: mixed
- Average GP visit: $10 USD
- EHIC/GHIC accepted: No
- Language barrier: high
Healthcare overview
Maputo Central Hospital and private clinics in Maputo provide Mozambique’s best care. The country’s long coastline and poor road infrastructure make healthcare access challenging outside major cities. Beira has a secondary hospital; Nampula and Pemba in the north have basic facilities. The northern Cabo Delgado province has security concerns affecting healthcare access. Inhambane and the southern coast tourist areas have basic clinics.
Coastline logistics challenge
Mozambique stretches over 2,500 km of coastline with poor road connections. Northern destinations may be a multi-day drive from Maputo’s hospitals.
Cabo Delgado security
Northern Cabo Delgado has active security concerns. Healthcare access in the province is limited and unpredictable.
Vaccinations
Recommended
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Typhoid
- Malaria prophylaxis
- Yellow Fever
- Meningitis
- Rabies
Prescriptions and pharmacies
Maputo has pharmacies with basic medications following Portuguese conventions. Prices are low. Northern cities have more limited pharmacy access. Having your medication list in Portuguese helps pharmacists match available products. Carry your full supply for any travel outside Maputo.
Portuguese pharmaceutical naming
Mozambique follows Portuguese pharmaceutical conventions. A medication list in Portuguese is more practical than English at most pharmacies.
Tips for travellers
Maputo’s hospitals provide basic specialist care. For complex conditions, Johannesburg (1 hour by air from Maputo) offers South Africa’s world-class specialist system. Having your treatment plan accessible in Portuguese and English covers both Mozambican providers and South African specialists.
Johannesburg proximity
Johannesburg is just 1 hour by air from Maputo, making South Africa’s specialist system the practical backup for complex conditions.