🇸🇹 São Tomé and Príncipe Healthcare Guide
Hospital Ayres de Menezes in Sao Tome city is the country's main facility, while Principe has only a small health centre. Serious cases are typically evacuated to Portugal or Gabon. Yellow Fever vaccination is required. Carrying your full medication supply and having your medical summary available in Portuguese covers you across a small island nation where the healthcare system is limited but distances are short and the main risk is needing care that the local facility isn't equipped to provide.
Quick facts
- Emergency number: 112
- Healthcare system: mixed
- Average GP visit: $15 USD
- EHIC/GHIC accepted: No
- Language barrier: medium
Healthcare overview
São Tomé and Príncipe has limited healthcare infrastructure. The Hospital Dr. Ayres de Menezes on São Tomé island is the main public facility, with a small number of private clinics in the capital. Príncipe island has a basic health post. For anything beyond minor care, evacuation to Libreville (Gabon) or Luanda (Angola) is typically required. Having your health summary saved and accessible offline is essential—internet connectivity across both islands is unreliable, particularly on Príncipe.
Príncipe island limitations
Príncipe has only a basic health post. Visitors with existing health conditions should base themselves on São Tomé or ensure evacuation coverage is in place before visiting the smaller island.
Gabon and Angola referral
Libreville (Gabon) and Luanda (Angola) are the nearest evacuation destinations. Both have direct or near-direct air access from São Tomé international airport.
Vaccinations
Required
- Yellow Fever
Recommended
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Typhoid
- Malaria prophylaxis
- Meningitis
- Rabies
Prescriptions and pharmacies
Pharmacies in São Tomé city carry a basic range of medications, following Portuguese pharmaceutical conventions given the country’s colonial history. Stock is limited and availability of specific medications cannot be guaranteed. Bring an adequate supply of any regular medications from home. Having your medication list saved in Portuguese with generic names gives you the best basis for matching what is locally available.
Portuguese pharmaceutical conventions
Portuguese drug names and conventions are the reference standard in São Tomé pharmacies. A medication list in Portuguese is more useful than English at the counter.
Tips for travellers
São Tomé’s clinics handle minor conditions. For anything more serious, Libreville (roughly 1 hour by air) is the nearest city with more capable private hospitals, and Luanda offers broader specialist options. Having your records saved and shareable in Portuguese or English means receiving facilities in both Gabon and Angola can review your history on arrival without waiting for documentation.
Libreville as nearest hub
Libreville is approximately 1 hour from São Tomé by air and is the most accessible city with stronger medical facilities for evacuation cases.