🇾🇪 Yemen Healthcare Guide
Healthcare infrastructure across Yemen has been severely impacted by ongoing conflict, and functioning medical facilities are concentrated in the largest cities — Aden and Sanaa have some operational hospitals, but availability of medications, equipment, and specialist staff is unpredictable. Outside these cities, healthcare is effectively unavailable in many areas. Bringing a comprehensive personal medical kit including all regular medications, basic first aid supplies, and any prescribed emergency treatments means you're self-sufficient for the periods — which may be extended — between accessible facilities.
Quick facts
- Emergency number: 191
- Healthcare system: limited
- Average GP visit: $45 USD
- EHIC/GHIC accepted: No
- Language barrier: high
Healthcare overview
Yemen’s healthcare system has collapsed under years of conflict, with the UN estimating that fewer than half of health facilities are fully functional. Sana’a and Aden have some functioning hospitals, but supply shortages, staffing gaps, and intermittent power affect all facilities. Outside major cities, healthcare access is extremely limited or nonexistent. Visitors (primarily aid workers and journalists) should have a comprehensive medical evacuation plan and carry personal medical supplies. Having your health summary saved and accessible offline is worth doing, as connectivity is unreliable across the country.
Healthcare system collapse
Fewer than half of Yemen’s health facilities are fully functional. Conditions in remaining facilities are severely constrained.
Evacuation plan required
Any visit to Yemen should include a pre-arranged medical evacuation plan to Djibouti, Muscat (Oman), or Amman (Jordan).
Vaccinations
Recommended
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Typhoid
- Malaria prophylaxis
Prescriptions and pharmacies
Pharmacy availability in Yemen is extremely limited, with severe medication shortages across the country. Many essential medications are unavailable. Carry your complete supply for the entire stay, including first aid supplies, antibiotics, and anything else you might need. Do not rely on local purchase for anything at all.
Complete self-sufficiency required
Bring all medications, first aid supplies, and medical items you could possibly need. Pharmacy stock in Yemen is unreliable at best.
Tips for travellers
Specialist care within Yemen is effectively unavailable. Visitors with any chronic condition should have their full treatment protocol, medication list, and emergency contacts saved and accessible offline, as both connectivity and medical infrastructure are unreliable. The nearest stable specialist hubs are Djibouti (limited), Muscat (Oman, stronger), and Amman (Jordan, comprehensive).
Nearest stable specialist hubs
Muscat (Oman) and Amman (Jordan) are the nearest cities with reliable specialist care. Djibouti is geographically closer but has more limited capabilities.