How does healthcare work in Seychelles, and what travel insurance, health insurance or expat insurance do you need?

What is the quality of healthcare in Seychelles?

The Seychelles has a relatively good healthcare system compared to many other island states and African countries. Basic care is easily accessible on the larger islands and the government has been investing in public health care for years.
Most medical facilities are located on Mahé, Praslin and La Digue.
On smaller islands, medical care is limited or sometimes virtually absent.
The largest hospital in the country is the Seychelles Hospital in Victoria on Mahé.
For serious or specialist treatments, patients are sometimes sent abroad, for example to South Africa, Mauritius or India.
Healthcare is fairly modern, but specialist care remains limited.
Ambulances are available on the larger islands via emergency number 999 or directly via 151 for ambulance care.
How quickly the ambulance arrives may vary per location. On smaller islands, medical evacuation by boat or plane may be necessary.
Medicines are usually reasonably available on Mahé, but specific medicines or specialist resources may have limited availability. Outside Mahé the offer is a lot smaller.

Public health care is largely financed by the government.
Much basic care is cheap or free for residents. There are public clinics spread across the inhabited islands.
Public care includes general practitioner care, emergency care, basic hospital care, vaccinations and prenatal care.
The quality of care is generally quite good for simple medical problems.
However, there are limitations such as:
- that there are few specialists.
- the intensive care capacity is small.
- there are few options for complex surgery.
- waiting times for specialist care.
Medical treatments are usually not free for tourists and expats. Good insurance therefore remains important.

In addition to public care, there are several private clinics, especially on Mahé.
Private care usually offers shorter waiting times, more personal guidance, better availability of English-speaking doctors and more comfortable facilities.
Many private clinics focus on general practitioner care, minor treatments and diagnostics. Complex operations or specialist treatments are often carried out abroad.
Private care can be expensive, especially when medical evacuation proves necessary.

There are sufficient general practitioners and health centers on the larger islands.
For simple health issues, travelers can usually quickly contact:
- public health centers.
- private clinics.
- hotel doctors at tourist locations.
English and French are widely spoken in health centers, clinics and other medical facilities.
A referral is often required for specialist care.
On smaller islands, doctors may have limited attendance or be available on certain days.

Dental care is available on Mahé and partly on Praslin.
There are both public and private dentists available.
For simple dental care, the quality is usually fine, for specialist treatments or complex surgery, some people travel abroad.
Dental care can be expensive.
A dental check before departure is always a good idea - cracking coconuts is preferable to cracking your teeth.

Maternity care in the Seychelles is relatively well-developed.
Public hospitals offer:
- prenatal checks.
- guidance during pregnancy.
- hospital births.
- basic maternity care.
Most births take place in hospitals.
Complex pregnancies or serious complications may require medical evacuation to another country.
But in any case, foreigners sometimes choose to travel temporarily to a country with more specialist care for the birth.

The Seychelles are relatively safe.
However, petty crime does occur, such as pickpockets, theft on beaches, car burglaries and theft from hotel rooms.
Nature also poses risks such as strong currents, slippery rocks, tropical heat and dehydration.

The Seychelles do not have malaria. However, other mosquito-borne diseases do occur, such as dengue, chikungunya and zika.
Foodborne infections, diarrhea and leptospirosis via contaminated water also occur.
Tap water is generally drinkable on the large islands, but with high chloride concentrate.

Traffic on Mahé can be busy and chaotic.
The roads are narrow, winding and sometimes steep.
Traffic is calmer on smaller islands.
Driving on the left is mandatory, which can require some shifting (with the other hand) for many European travelers.
Scooters and rental cars are popular, but accidents are common due to slippery roads, tropical rain and sharp bends.