🇷🇪 Réunion Healthcare Guide
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de la Reunion provides care on par with metropolitan France, with facilities in both Saint-Denis and Saint-Pierre covering the island well. As a French overseas department, the healthcare system follows French protocols and operates in French. EHIC covers EU visitors for emergency treatment, and having your medical details available in French makes any consultation straightforward on an island where the healthcare itself is excellent but almost entirely francophone.
Quick facts
- Emergency number: 112
- Healthcare system: mixed
- Average GP visit: $15 USD
- EHIC/GHIC accepted: No
- Language barrier: medium
Healthcare overview
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) de La Réunion, with sites in Saint-Denis (Félix Guyon) and Saint-Pierre, is one of the best-equipped hospitals in the Indian Ocean and sub-Saharan Africa region. As a French overseas department, the French healthcare system applies, including EHIC acceptance. CHU serves as the regional referral centre for Mayotte, Comoros, and Madagascar. Private clinics supplement the public system.
Regional referral centre
CHU La Réunion receives medical transfers from Mayotte, Comoros, and Madagascar, making it the Indian Ocean’s specialist hub.
French system with EHIC
Réunion operates under the French healthcare system. EHIC is accepted, and the pay-then-claim model works as in mainland France.
Vaccinations
Recommended
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Typhoid
Prescriptions and pharmacies
Réunion’s pharmacies follow French pharmaceutical standards and carry a range comparable to mainland France. French prescriptions are accepted directly. Non-French prescriptions may need local verification.
Mainland France pharmacy range
Réunion’s pharmacies carry a medication range comparable to metropolitan France, making it the best-stocked pharmacy system in the Indian Ocean.
Tips for travellers
CHU La Réunion covers comprehensive specialist care at a high standard for the region. For highly complex conditions, mainland France (Paris, Bordeaux) is the referral destination. Having your treatment plan accessible in French covers the full French-system referral chain from Réunion through to metropolitan hospitals.
Mainland France as next tier
For specialist care beyond CHU La Réunion’s scope, mainland French hospitals are the referral destination, within the same healthcare system.