Your essential guide to São Tomé medical care

All travellers should carry comprehensive medical travel insurance, including emergency evacuation cover.

São Tomé has limited specialist services for serious conditions. Severe injuries, serious infections, cardiac events, strokes, major trauma, or conditions requiring advanced surgery may need evacuation to better-equipped hospitals abroad.

Bring all personal medication for your full trip, plus extra in case of delays. It is also sensible to carry basic supplies such as pain relief, rehydration salts, bandages, and regular prescriptions.

Keep a cash reserve for medical situations. Some medical care may require upfront payment.

São Tomé and Príncipe has no resident embassies from most Western countries. Consular services are often provided from Angola.

British, American, and several European citizens may need to contact their embassies in Luanda for emergency consular support.

British citizens can contact the British Embassy Luanda for 24/7 emergency consular assistance.

US citizens can contact the US Embassy in Luanda for emergency assistance and should register their trip through the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program if they use that service.

Portuguese citizens can contact the Portuguese Embassy in São Tomé City.

Check with your foreign ministry before travel to confirm which embassy covers São Tomé and Príncipe for your nationality.

The Ministry of Health is the main state institution responsible for health policy in São Tomé and Príncipe.

It oversees public health services, national reference hospitals, medicines, vaccines, and the inspection and licensing of health establishments, including clinics and pharmacies.

For official information on disease control, vaccination schedules, and health programmes, use current Ministry of Health or international health guidance.

Most travellers should be up to date with routine vaccinations before visiting São Tomé and Príncipe.

Common travel health recommendations include Hepatitis A, Typhoid, and Tdap. Yellow fever certification is required if you are arriving from, or transiting through, a country where yellow fever is a risk.

Speak to a qualified travel health clinic before travelling.

Malaria is present in São Tomé and Príncipe.

Ask your doctor or travel clinic about malaria prophylaxis before travelling. You should also use insect repellent, cover exposed skin in the evenings, and sleep under mosquito nets where necessary.

Malaria prevention is an important part of travel health planning for São Tomé and Príncipe.

Tap water is not safe to drink.

Use bottled or treated water and avoid ice unless you know it is safe. Be careful with raw salads and undercooked food.

Freshwater rivers and inland pools can carry parasitic infection risks, so avoid swimming or wading in fresh water. Sea swimming and hotel pools are generally safer.

Hospital Central Dr. Ayres de Menezes is the main public hospital in São Tomé City. It provides general medical services and key diagnostics, including CT scanning.

For imaging or detailed testing, it is the main public medical resource available. However, capacity is limited. Serious trauma, advanced surgery, and intensive care usually require evacuation abroad once the patient is stabilised locally.

Road accidents are a serious risk. Roads are not suitable for casual or careless motorbike riding, and specialist orthopaedic care is limited. If you are thinking about riding a motorbike, take that seriously.

Clínica ARS Médica is a private clinic in São Tomé City used by residents and foreign travellers.

Several doctors speak English, including Dr. Rita, who has worked as a doctor for the NHS. This makes it one of the most accessible options for visitors needing non-critical medical help.

Telephone: 224 4050

Standard consultation: 200 dobras, payable on arrival

Languages: English, Spanish, Portuguese

Services: general medicine, minor injuries, infections, prescriptions

Location: EN nº 2, São Tomé, near the stadium. Taxi drivers should know it.

The clinic handles non-trauma issues, infections, minor injuries, and general medical advice. For routine health problems, you can normally walk in and pay without a prior appointment.

Pharmacies exist in São Tomé City, but medication availability is inconsistent.

Do not rely on replacing essential prescriptions locally. Bring everything you need, plus extra supplies in case of delays.

Useful pharmacy areas include the Papa Figo area, near the new Diogo Vaz location, and the area near ARS Médica. There is also a pharmacy in Santo António, near the fire station, but availability can vary.

Outside the capital, medication availability is extremely limited or nonexistent.

Never buy medication from informal vendors.

These medicines may be expired, badly stored, or unsafe. Use licensed pharmacies only.

The direct hospital emergency number is 222 22 22.

The unified emergency number 112 may connect to ambulance, police, or fire services depending on location.

Ambulance coverage can be limited and response times may be unpredictable. In an emergency, you may need to organise private transport. Hotels, guides, and drivers can often arrange rapid transport to Clínica ARS Médica or Hospital Central Dr. Ayres de Menezes.

Many serious conditions cannot be treated locally.

Major trauma, severe infections, strokes, cardiac events, and conditions requiring specialist intervention may require medical evacuation.

Travel insurance with full evacuation cover is essential. Evacuation may involve transfer from local facilities to better-equipped hospitals abroad, often in Portugal or regional hubs.

If evacuation may be needed, contact your insurer immediately while local teams stabilise the patient. Your embassy or consular contact may also be able to assist.