By Massimo Boavista2000, Boavista2000: on Boa Vista since 1998, more than 250 apartments built and sold with Daniele Rampini.
Published on 24 October 2026
In shortOn Boa Vista there is the public health facility in Sal Rei for first aid and basic care, plus a few private practices; for an ambulance, call 130. For serious cases the best-equipped hospitals are in Praia and Mindelo, or you fly home. UK GHIC and European EHIC cards are not valid here: before you leave, take out travel insurance covering medical costs and repatriation and pack the medicines you use.
Numbers to save
Useful health numbers on Boa Vista
- Ambulance130Medical emergency number, free, from anywhere in Cape Verde.
- Police132For accidents, theft and any security emergency.
- Fire brigade131Fires and technical rescue.
- Boa Vista hospital+238 251 11 67The island’s public health facility, in Sal Rei (number listed by the Italian Foreign Ministry’s travel advice).
Save these numbers on your phone before you leave. If you are in a hotel, reception can call a doctor or an ambulance and explain in Portuguese where you are. All the island’s useful numbers, with one-tap calling, are also in the «A Boa Vista» app.
Where to get treatment
Hospital, clinics and pharmacies on Boa Vista
Cape Verde’s health system has improved a lot in recent years, but it is still far from European standards. On the smaller islands, Boa Vista included, there are facilities for first aid and basic care.
This is the island’s reference point for emergencies, consultations and first aid. It is fine for the minor mishaps of a holiday: cuts, fever, stomach upsets, sunburn. For complex tests or operations, patients are transferred to another island.
A private clinic at the entrance to Sal Rei, with English-speaking staff, included in the UK government’s list of medical facilities in Cape Verde. The list dates from 2020: before you go, ask at your hotel whether it is still open and what services it offers today.
Since 2026, in the Boa Esperança neighbourhood (Chã de Salinas health post), there has been a free paediatric clinic for children aged 0 to 14, opened by RIU and the association África Avanza together with the Ministry of Health. It is intended mainly for island families.
Sal Rei has pharmacies for the most common medicines. You will not always find the same brands you use at home: bring your usual medicines with you. The list of duty pharmacies in Cape Verde is published by Emprofac, the state pharmaceutical company.
Serious cases
If you need a bigger hospital
According to the UK government’s travel advice, health care in Cape Verde is basic and limited, and the main hospitals are on the islands of Santiago (Praia, Agostinho Neto hospital) and São Vicente (Mindelo). On the other islands, care is mainly outpatient treatment and first aid.
- First aidSal ReiConsultation, first treatment and stabilisation of the patient on the island.
- TransferPraia or MindeloFor tests and treatment not available on Boa Vista, by domestic flight or air ambulance.
- Serious problemsFlight homeFor serious cases, medical evacuation home is the usual answer: this is where your insurance makes all the difference.
Before you go
Health insurance: how to travel with peace of mind
Cape Verde is not in the European Union: the UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) and the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) are not accepted and you pay for treatment. Here is what to do, in order.
- Take out travel insuranceChoose a policy that covers medical costs and also medical repatriation or evacuation to another country, as the UK government recommends. Many tour operators offer it with the package: check the cover limits.
- Declare any existing conditionsIf you have a medical condition or take regular medication, tell your insurer when you buy the policy, so that you are actually covered.
- Save the assistance line numberKeep your insurer’s emergency number and your policy number to hand: in case of problems, call them straight away, before paying for any major treatment.
- Follow your government’s travel adviceUK travellers can sign up for email alerts on the gov.uk travel advice page for Cape Verde; other travellers can register their trip with their own foreign ministry, where this service exists.
- If you live on Boa VistaIf you move here, an annual international health insurance policy is the best option. Read also our guide to living in Cape Verde.
What to pack
- The medicines you take regularly, enough for your whole stay, in your hand luggage: medicines bought locally may be counterfeit, as the Italian Foreign Ministry warns.
- Something for diarrhoea, a painkiller, plasters and disinfectant.
- High-factor sun cream and after-sun: on Boa Vista the sun is strong all year round, even when it is windy.
- Mosquito repellent, especially from August to October: there have been cases of dengue in Cape Verde, and the mosquitoes that carry it bite mainly during the day.
- Drink bottled water and avoid ice and raw vegetables if you are not sure how they were washed.
Vaccinations
- From the UK and Europe no vaccination is compulsory.
- A yellow fever certificate is only required from travellers aged 1 year or over arriving from a country with a risk of this disease.
- TravelHealthPro recommends hepatitis A, tetanus and typhoid for most travellers, and hepatitis B for some. There is no malaria risk in Cape Verde.
- Talk to your GP, practice nurse or a travel clinic at least 8 weeks before you leave.
Before you go
Everything else for your trip
Documents and EASE, money and exchange, phone, what to pack: the complete checklist for a stress-free departure.
Frequently asked questions about health care in Cape Verde
Is there a hospital on Boa Vista?
Yes, in Sal Rei there is the island’s public health facility, for emergencies, consultations and first aid (telephone +238 251 11 67). For complex tests and operations, patients are transferred to Praia or Mindelo, or flown home.
What is the ambulance number in Cape Verde?
130. The police answer on 132 and the fire brigade on 131.
Is my GHIC or EHIC valid in Cape Verde?
No. Cape Verde is not in the European Union, and neither the UK GHIC nor the European EHIC covers treatment there. You need travel insurance covering medical costs and medical repatriation.
Do I need vaccinations to go to Cape Verde?
From the UK and Europe no vaccination is compulsory. A yellow fever certificate is only required from travellers arriving from risk countries. For recommended vaccinations, such as hepatitis A, tetanus and typhoid, ask your GP or a travel clinic.
Can I get medicines on Boa Vista?
Yes, Sal Rei has pharmacies with the most common medicines, but not always the brands you know. Bring the medicines you take regularly, enough for your whole trip.
Information updated October 2026. Sources: UK government foreign travel advice for Cape Verde (gov.uk, health section: GHIC not accepted, basic health care, travel insurance with medical evacuation); TravelHealthPro (UK National Travel Health Network and Centre), Cape Verde page, for vaccinations, yellow fever, malaria and dengue; Italian Foreign Ministry travel advice (Viaggiare Sicuri, updated August 2026) for the hospital number and counterfeit medicines; UK government list of medical facilities in Cape Verde (2020); RIU Hotels press release on the Boa Vista paediatric clinic (July 2026). Facilities, opening hours and services may change: always check your government’s travel advice before you go. This information does not replace medical advice.