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Seychelles · Health System

Healthcare in Seychelles

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

Before you move to Seychelles, 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
Tax-funded (Beveridge)
Public access (nomads)
No public access
Emergency number
999
Private GP visit
~€15
Care in English
Widely available in English

How the system works

Seychelles runs a tax-funded, Beveridge-model public health system. Since adopting a primary-health-care approach in the late 1970s/early 1980s, all Seychellois receive primary health services free of charge at the point of use in the public sector, and the right to free primary health care is enshrined in Article 29 of the Constitution. Care is delivered through the Ministry of Health via a network of public health centres and hospitals concentrated on Mahe — chiefly Seychelles Hospital (formerly Victoria Hospital) in the capital and Anse Royale Hospital — plus smaller facilities on Praslin (Baie Sainte Anne) and La Digue (Logan Hospital). WHO has highlighted the system for delivering broad, free, universal coverage. Facilities are adequate for routine and emergency care, but the islands have limited specialist capacity, so complex cases are typically referred or evacuated abroad.

A small private sector supplements the public system, concentrated in and around Victoria on Mahe, with tourist-oriented private doctors offering hotel call-outs and video consultations. Private-clinic consultations for non-residents are inexpensive by international standards — roughly SCR 150-300 (about EUR 9-18) for a walk-in visit — while tourist concierge services charge far more: Seychelles Medical Services lists a same-day private doctor visit at EUR 175 for visitors, with daytime call-outs EUR 275 and night call-outs EUR 375. Government clinics also see non-residents on a pay-as-you-go basis for a flat fee of around SCR 100 (about EUR 6-7) per consultation. English-speaking doctors are common, especially in the private sector. Travellers and nomads are strongly advised to carry international health insurance including medical-evacuation/repatriation cover, since serious or specialist treatment often requires transfer off-island.

WHO has highlighted Seychelles' free, universal public health care and the right to free primary care is constitutionally guaranteed (Article 29); health spending runs above 10% of the national budget though below 4% of GDP (WHO Regional Office for Africa). Care is reliable for routine and emergency needs but specialist capacity is limited, with complex cases referred or evacuated abroad (US Department of State travel advisory; UK FCDO travel advice). Public consultation fees for non-residents (around SCR 100 at government clinics, SCR 150-300 at private clinics) come from travel-guide sources rather than an official tariff, so treat the exact amounts as indicative.

Good to know

  • Tax-funded Beveridge system; primary care is free at the point of use for citizens, with the right to free primary care enshrined in Article 29 of the Constitution.
  • Tourists and non-residents are not covered by the free system and must pay: about SCR 100 (~EUR 6-7) for a government-clinic consultation and roughly SCR 150-300 (~EUR 9-18) for a private walk-in.
  • English is an official language and most medical staff speak it fluently, so language is rarely a barrier.
  • Hospital A&E/casualty runs around the clock; the all-purpose emergency number is 999 (UK and local guidance say call 999 for an ambulance), and 151 is the direct ambulance line.

Watch out for

  • The free public system is for Seychellois citizens; temporary residents and tourists must pay out of pocket for treatment even at public facilities, so private/travel health insurance is essential.
  • Specialist and advanced care is limited on the islands — serious cases are often referred or medically evacuated abroad, so repatriation/evacuation insurance is strongly advised (echoed by US and UK government travel advice).
  • Facilities and pharmacies are concentrated on Mahe; Praslin, La Digue and the outer islands have only basic care and reduced services.
  • Premium tourist call-out services are convenient but expensive (e.g. EUR 175-375 per visit), far above standard local clinic prices.

🩺 Insurance you'll need

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

See qualifying plans for Seychelles →

Healthcare in Seychelles: FAQ

Healthcare in Seychelles: FAQ

Can I use public healthcare in Seychelles as a digital nomad?

In short — the public system is not open to temporary visitors — you pay privately or through insurance. A small private sector supplements the public system, concentrated in and around Victoria on Mahe, with tourist-oriented private doctors offering hotel call-outs and video consultations. Private-clinic consultations for non-residents are inexpensive by international standards — roughly SCR 150-300 (about EUR 9-18) for a walk-in visit — while tourist concierge services charge far more: Seychelles Medical Services lists a same-day private doctor visit at EUR 175 for visitors, with daytime call-outs EUR 275 and night call-outs EUR 375. Government clinics also see non-residents on a pay-as-you-go basis for a flat fee of around SCR 100 (about EUR 6-7) per consultation. English-speaking doctors are common, especially in the private sector. Travellers and nomads are strongly advised to carry international health insurance including medical-evacuation/repatriation cover, since serious or specialist treatment often requires transfer off-island.

What is the emergency number in Seychelles?

999. 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 Seychelles?

Yes — beyond being prudent, the Workcation Permit requires it (required (explicit)). See the qualifying plans for Seychelles.

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