🇸🇨 Seychelles Healthcare Guide
Seychelles Hospital in Victoria on Mahe is the country's main facility and handles most emergencies, with smaller health centres on Praslin and La Digue. Specialist care often requires a transfer to Mauritius, Reunion, or South Africa. English and French are both used in the healthcare system, making it one of the more linguistically accessible island nations in the Indian Ocean — having your medication list with generic names saved and accessible is the main practical preparation for a destination that is otherwise straightforward to navigate.
Quick facts
- Emergency number: 112
- Healthcare system: mixed
- Average GP visit: $15 USD
- EHIC/GHIC accepted: No
- Language barrier: medium
Healthcare overview
The Seychelles has a functional public healthcare system for a small island nation. Mahe has the Victoria Hospital (public) and a number of private clinics; this is where the best care is available across the archipelago. Praslin has a hospital; La Digue has a health centre. For specialist care beyond local capacity, medical evacuation to Reunion (2.5 hours) or Nairobi (4 hours) is the established route. Public A&E is accessible to visitors at low cost. Having your health summary saved and accessible offline covers the outer islands and remote areas of the main island.
Mahe concentration
Victoria Hospital and Mahe’s private clinics cover the majority of available healthcare in Seychelles. Praslin and La Digue have more limited options.
Réunion and Nairobi evacuation
Medical evacuation typically routes to Réunion (French territory with strong public hospitals, 2.5 hours) or Nairobi (4 hours) for specialist care beyond local capacity.
Vaccinations
Recommended
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Typhoid
Prescriptions and pharmacies
Pharmacies in Victoria (Mahe) are adequately stocked for a small island nation, carrying a mix of European and Indian generic medications. French and English pharmaceutical conventions both apply given the bilingual official languages. Having your medication list saved in both generic and brand-name formats means pharmacists can match from their mixed inventory using whichever reference they recognise.
Bilingual pharmaceutical system
Seychelles pharmacies operate in both English and French. A medication list with generic names works in either context.
Tips for travellers
Victoria’s private clinics and hospital handle routine care competently. For cardiology, oncology, or complex specialist needs, Réunion’s public hospitals (2.5 hours by air) are the most common referral destination given the French connection, with Nairobi as the alternative. Having your treatment plan saved and shareable in English or French means Réunion’s French-speaking specialists can review your history without requesting records internationally.
Réunion specialist access
Réunion’s CHU and GHER hospitals are 2.5 hours from Mahe and offer strong specialist depth under the French public health system.