Health & Daily Life.
Public or private healthcare system, pharmacies, and GPs in daily life - what expats can actually expect on the ground.
Healthcare system at a glance.
- Public hospitals
- 6 nationwide (structure as of 2016, spot-checked in 2026 - no more recent official total figure found)
- Largest hospital
- Hospital Dr. Agostinho Neto, Praia
- Second most important
- Hospital Baptista de Sousa, Mindelo
- Private clinics
- Concentrated in Praia, Mindelo, Sal
- Pharmacies
- Well available in larger towns
- Smaller islands
- More limited medical care
Public or private?
Cape Verde has six public hospitals nationwide, with Hospital Dr. Agostinho Neto in Praia considered the largest and best equipped, followed by Hospital Baptista de Sousa in Mindelo. The public system is generally cheaper, but depending on the case can involve longer wait times and more limited specialist care - a pattern typical of small island states with constrained healthcare resources.
Private clinics and practices are concentrated in the larger towns - mainly Praia, Mindelo, and Sal - and generally offer faster access, albeit at higher cost. Expats who need regular specialist care are well advised to research in advance whether the specialty they need is even available privately on the ground.
Pharmacies & GPs.
Pharmacies
Pharmacies are well available in the larger towns of the main islands and usually stock common medications - on smaller islands you should bring an adequate supply of any essential long-term medication with you.
GP Care
In Praia, Mindelo, and the more tourism-developed islands, basic GP care is usually reachable without major wait times. On smaller islands (Brava, São Nicolau), the offering is more limited.
Emergency Transfer
In more serious cases on smaller islands, a transfer to Praia or Mindelo is common - a key reason why international health insurance with medical evacuation cover is especially relevant for expats.
Drinking Water & Hygiene
As described in the Infrastructure Guide, tap water is generally not recommended as drinking water - a point relevant to daily life, including for long-term stays.
Choosing a location with healthcare in mind
If you need regular specialist care (e.g. for chronic conditions), that's a structural argument for settling in or near Praia or Mindelo rather than on a smaller island - a factor often underestimated when choosing where to live.
Sources & status of this page
- "6 public hospitals nationwide": matches the official structure of the Ministério da Saúde (2 central hospitals + several regional hospitals, per a 2016 overview). Wikipedia ("Health in Cape Verde") informally lists around 12 smaller facilities under "Hospital" - the discrepancy comes from different counting definitions, not an error on this page. A more recent official total figure for 2025/2026 could not be found despite searching (checked 18.10.2026) - according to the "Carta Sanitária de Cabo Verde 2025," the government is working on a new national hospital as an additional top-tier facility, which per available sources would complement but had not yet opened. Spot-check 19.10.2026 (as part of the emergency-guide research, see emergency.html): independently identified facilities are the 2 central hospitals (Praia, Mindelo) plus regional hospitals on Sal, Santo Antão, and Fogo - consistent with the "6" structure, though still no official 2025/26 total list exists. The figure is therefore explicitly labeled "as of 2016."
- Hospital Dr. Agostinho Neto (Praia) as the largest hospital: confirmed via the institution's own site han.gov.cv and several independent sources (approx. 350 beds).
- Hospital Baptista de Sousa (Mindelo) as "second most important": listed by the Ministério da Saúde as the second central hospital and reference facility for the northern region - a bed-count-verified ranking could not be found in any source; the statement refers to function, not a documented size ranking.
- Limited emergency transfer from smaller islands: Wikipedia confirms this even more starkly than stated here - for Brava and Santo Antão, air evacuation is described as "nearly impossible," since neither island has a functioning airport anymore.
Questions about health & daily life.
How many public hospitals are there in Cape Verde?
Six nationwide (structure as of 2016 - two central hospitals in Praia and Mindelo plus four regional hospitals; a more recent official total figure for 2025/2026 could not be found), with Hospital Dr. Agostinho Neto in Praia as the largest.
Should I be publicly or privately insured?
For expats, private international health insurance with medical evacuation cover is usually the more sensible choice - details in the Health Insurance Guide.
Are pharmacies available everywhere?
Well available in larger towns, more limited on smaller islands - bring long-term medication with you as a precaution.
What happens in a medical emergency on a small island?
A transfer to Praia or Mindelo is common - one reason why insurance with medical evacuation cover matters.
This page does not replace individual medical advice. Before moving, consult a doctor about your personal health situation and clarify the actual care situation on the ground directly before your move.
Related Topics.
Continue to the next topic.
Medical evacuation cover and insurance options in detail.