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Cape Verde · Health System

Healthcare in Cape Verde

Partially verified Last verified June 15, 2026 Reviewed by Henry van de Vorming

Before you move to Cape Verde, the question that matters isn't "is the healthcare good" — it's "can I, on a temporary visa, actually use it, and what happens in an emergency?" Here's how the system works for a nomad, and where private insurance fits.

At a glance

System
Two-tier: public + private
Public access (nomads)
No — private insurance needed
Emergency number
130
Private GP visit
~€25
Care in English
Limited English

How the system works

Cabo Verde runs a government-subsidised, two-tier health system: a tax- and social-insurance-funded public sector that gives all Cabo Verdeans a basic package of services (antenatal care, emergency treatment, HIV/TB care), alongside a smaller but growing private sector concentrated in Praia (Santiago), Mindelo (Sao Vicente) and the tourist islands of Sal and Boa Vista. WHO highlights strong primary-care reach (over 80% of the population lives within 30 minutes of a health facility) and milestones such as 2024 WHO malaria-free certification, but the system is resource-constrained: there are only about six hospitals, medicines can be in short supply, and complex cases (e.g. some cancers, cardiac surgery) are evacuated abroad, usually to Portugal, at public expense for affiliated residents. For a temporary or nomad resident the practical reality is private clinics plus international insurance, because the public system is not designed to cover non-affiliated foreigners and care standards fall below what European/US visitors typically expect.

The private sector is the practical route for nomads and tourists and is concentrated in the larger towns and tourist islands. Praia has clinics such as Clinica Santa Maria, Clinica de Praia, Clinica Sao Jorge and the Cardiomed polyclinic; Mindelo has Clinica das Ilhas and Clinica Sante; Sal and Boa Vista have tourist-oriented clinics (Clinitur, Clinica da Murdeira, Cardiomed in Espargos, Clinica Boa Esperanca). A basic private consultation starts around 20-30 EUR in Praia and is typically higher on tourist islands like Sal and Boa Vista, where clinics often bill against travel insurance. Some English-speaking doctors exist in these centres but availability is limited; Portuguese (and Cape Verdean Creole) dominate. Serious cases frequently require medical evacuation to Portugal or Europe, which can cost roughly 15,000-30,000 USD and more, so international health insurance with an evacuation/repatriation benefit is strongly recommended.

WHO's Regional Office for Africa praises Cabo Verde as showing the kind of health-care progress it wants to see across Africa, noting all citizens are entitled to a basic package of services, over 80% of the population lives within 30 minutes of a health facility, and the country achieved WHO malaria-free certification in January 2024. At the same time, the UK FCDO warns that health care in Cabo Verde is "very basic and limited", with some medicines in short supply or unavailable and emergency air evacuation "extremely difficult" from islands without functioning airports (e.g. Brava, Santo Antao).

Good to know

  • Over 80% of the population lives within 30 minutes of a health facility, and WHO certified Cabo Verde malaria-free in January 2024 (third country in the WHO African region in 50 years, joining Mauritius and Algeria).
  • Private GP/clinic consultations are cheap by European standards: roughly 20-30 EUR in Praia.
  • Universal basic public package exists for citizens, and the state funds medical evacuation abroad (usually Portugal) for complex cases for affiliated residents.
  • Private clinics on the main and tourist islands (Praia, Mindelo, Sal, Boa Vista) are the practical option for short-term residents and visitors.

Watch out for

  • The public system does not, in principle, cover tourists or expatriates who are not affiliated with INPS (social security), so a temporary/nomad resident effectively needs private care plus international insurance.
  • FCDO describes care as very basic and limited, with medicine shortages; the EU/UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC/EHIC) is not accepted.
  • English-speaking doctors are scarce; Portuguese and Cape Verdean Creole are the working languages of care.
  • Serious illness or injury often means costly medical evacuation to Portugal/Europe (commonly 15,000-30,000 USD+), and evacuation is extremely difficult from islands without functioning airports (e.g. Brava, Santo Antao).

🩺 Insurance you'll need

Because temporary residents largely can't lean on the public system, and the Remote Working Program requires cover, private health insurance is part of the move — not an afterthought. We list the plans that plausibly meet Cape Verde's requirement, ranked by fit.

See qualifying plans for Cape Verde →

Healthcare in Cape Verde: FAQ

Healthcare in Cape Verde: FAQ

Can I use public healthcare in Cape Verde as a digital nomad?

In short — the public system is not open to temporary residents, so private health insurance is the route. The private sector is the practical route for nomads and tourists and is concentrated in the larger towns and tourist islands. Praia has clinics such as Clinica Santa Maria, Clinica de Praia, Clinica Sao Jorge and the Cardiomed polyclinic; Mindelo has Clinica das Ilhas and Clinica Sante; Sal and Boa Vista have tourist-oriented clinics (Clinitur, Clinica da Murdeira, Cardiomed in Espargos, Clinica Boa Esperanca). A basic private consultation starts around 20-30 EUR in Praia and is typically higher on tourist islands like Sal and Boa Vista, where clinics often bill against travel insurance. Some English-speaking doctors exist in these centres but availability is limited; Portuguese (and Cape Verdean Creole) dominate. Serious cases frequently require medical evacuation to Portugal or Europe, which can cost roughly 15,000-30,000 USD and more, so international health insurance with an evacuation/repatriation benefit is strongly recommended.

What is the emergency number in Cape Verde?

130. Call it for life-threatening emergencies; emergency departments will treat you regardless of insurance, but you may be billed afterwards if you're not covered.

Do I need private health insurance in Cape Verde?

Yes — beyond being prudent, the Remote Working Program requires it (required (explicit)). See the qualifying plans for Cape Verde.

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