Health is a major issue when moving abroad. Are expats eligible for the Mauritian health system? What are the conditions to be met? Do expats need health insurance coverage in Mauritius? Below are the answers to the questions you might have.
Overview of the health system in Mauritius
Mauritius has regional hospitals, specialized hospitals and private clinics. This is supported by a network of regional and community health centers evenly distributed throughout the island. This is complemented by a network of pharmacies whose services extend to rural areas.
Public hospitals are freely accessible to both residents and expats. However, while care is free for residents, it is not free for non-residents.
In addition, it takes a lot of patience to get an appointment. The process is well-defined but long: in order to get an appointment, you must first go to the hospital and consult a general practitioner (GP), and then a file will be put together for the appointment. Between each step, there is triage, waiting, and additional tests if necessary (weight, height, blood pressure, temperature, blood test, X-ray, etc.).
Although the public health system is capable of treating most health problems, expats show a clear preference for the private system, which is faster and often better equipped. With several clinics, the private sector has allowed Mauritius to become a destination of choice for medical tourism.
Two pieces of information to keep in mind:
- Getting treatment in a clinic in Mauritius is often very expensive;
- Mauritians who wish to benefit from advanced treatments unavailable in the country very often turn to Reunion Island, India and South Africa. This is something to consider if you require specific treatments. Moreover, for maximum protection, most expats in Mauritius choose to take out international health insurance.
Hospitals, health centers and clinics in Mauritius
Mauritius has a well-developed healthcare system governed by the Ministry of Health and Wellness. Healthcare is provided by both the public and private sectors. There are 5 major public hospitals, 6 specialized public hospitals, local health centers and clinics. There are also 18 private clinics and 11 specialized fee-for-service centers.
These structures are staffed by a large majority of foreign-trained doctors, as well as by doctors who are themselves expats. In Mauritius, the medical profession is regulated by the Medical Council of Mauritius. This ensures that medical practices conform to the highest international standards of quality and practice.
Good to know:
The government of Mauritius is committed to modernizing its healthcare system and incorporating the latest technological advances to enhance services for its citizens. In the presentation of the 2024–2025 budget, the Minister of Finance announced an allocation of Rs 17.2 billion for this pivotal sector.
The 5 public hospitals of Mauritius
The Victoria Hospital - PMOC complex, located in Candos in the PlaineWilhems district
The Victoria Hospital provides the following services: General Medicine - General Surgery - Orthopaedic Surgery - Plastic Surgery - Gynaecology and Obstetrics - Paediatrics - Nursery - Neonatal Intensive Care - Cardiology - Radiology - Oncology - Burns Unit - Psychiatry - Lithotripsy - Pathology - Dentistry - Haemodialysis - Accidents and Emergencies - Medical and Surgical Intensive Care - OPD Chest Diseases - OPD Dermatology.
Paramedical Services: Central Laboratory - Blood Bank - School of Nursing - Physiotherapy Department - Medical Social Service - Virology Department - Speech Therapy (at the ENT Center) - Occupational Therapy (at the ENT Center) - X-ray - C A T Scan - Dietician.
The area is also served by 20 community health centers and 5 regional health centers.
The regional hospital, Dr. A. Gaffoor Jeetoo, located in the district of Port-Louis, the capital
The Dr. A. Gaffoor Jeetoo Hospital provides the following services: General Medicine - General Surgery - Orthopedics - Pediatrics - Nursery - Gynecology and Obstetrics - Physical Medicine - Chest Diseases - NCD (Communicable Disease Clinic) - Skin Diseases OPD - ENT Clinic OPD - Oncology OPD - Ophthalmology OPD - Accident and Emergency Department - Medical and Surgical Intensive Care - Dental Facilities - Hemodialysis.
Auxiliary Departments: Medical Laboratory Services - X-Ray - Physical Therapy - Occupational Therapy - Speech Language Pathologist - Dietician - Social Worker - Medical Records Department.
The area is also served by 25 community health centers and 6 regional health centers.
Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam National Hospital, located in Pamplemousses
The Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam National Hospital provides the following services: General Medicine - General Surgery - Orthopedics - Surgery - Gynecology and Obstetrics - Pediatrics - Nursery - Neonatal Intensive Care - Cardiology - Cardiac Surgery - Radiology - Oncology OPD - Psychiatry - Lithotripsy - Pathology - Dental - Hemodialysis - Accidents and Emergencies - Medical and Surgical Intensive Care - Chest Diseases OPD - Dermatology OPD - Ophthalmology OPD.
Paramedical services: Magnetic Resonance Imaging Laboratory (MRI) - School of Nursing - Physiotherapy Department - Medical and Social Services - Speech Therapy - Occupational Therapy - X-Ray - C A T Scan - Dietician.
The area is also served by 23 community health centers and 4 regional health centers
Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital, located in Rose Belle
The Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital provides the following services: General Medicine - General Surgery - Renal Surgery - Orthopedics - Pediatrics - Nursery - Gynecology and Obstetrics - Physical Medicine - Chest Diseases - NCDs (Non-Communicable Diseases) - Skin Diseases - ENT - Oncology - Ophthalmology - Accident and Emergency - Medical and Surgical Intensive Care - Dental Facilities - Hemodialysis.
Auxiliary Departments: Medical Laboratory Services - X-ray - Nuclear Medicine - C A T Scan - Physiotherapy - Occupational Therapy - Speech Therapy - Dietician - Social Worker - Centralized Medical Records Department.
The area is also served by 17 community health centers and 5 regional health centers.
Dr. Bruno Cheong Hospital (formerly Flacq Hospital), located in Flacq
The Dr. Bruno Cheong Hospital provides the following services: General medicine - General surgery - Orthopedics - Pediatrics - Neonatal nursery - Gynecology and obstetrics - Psychiatry - Endocrinology - EMS services (emergency medical unit) - Physical medicine - Chest diseases - Outpatient clinic - NCD Secretariat - NCD Services - Skin Diseases - ENT Clinic - Ophthalmology - Accident and Emergency Department - Dental Facilities - Hemodialysis Unit - Ayurvedic Outpatient Clinic - Speech Therapy Unit - Nutrition Unit - Medical Social Worker.
Auxiliary Departments: Medical Laboratory Services - Blood Bank - X-Ray - Physiotherapy - Occupational Therapy - Centralized Medical Records Department - Centralized Sterile Supplies Department - Laundry Unit - Food Service Unit - Supply Unit - Energy Services Unit.
The area is also served by 24 community health centers, 4 regional health centers and 1 medical clinic.
District hospitals, community centers, and medi-clinics
The 2 district hospitals in Mauritius are the Souillac Hospital and the Mahébourg Hospital.
Community health centers and dispensaries will offer basic health services, family planning/maternal and child health services, dental care and immunization.
Medi-clinics offer basic health services, family planning/maternal and child health services, dental care, immunization, health education, public health services, laboratory services, X-ray and ultrasound.
Regional Health Centers (RHC) offer basic health services, family planning/maternal and child health services, dental care, immunization, health education and public health services.
Community Health Centers (CHC) offer basic health services, family planning/maternal and child health services, immunization and health education with community participation.
Family Health Centers (FHC) offer family planning, maternal and child health services and health education. Family Planning Clinics (FPC) offer family planning and health education services.
Useful links:
The 4 specialized hospitals
Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Hospital: After functioning as a COVID quarantine center since March 2020, the New ENT Hospital has returned to its primary role as a specialized facility for ear, nose, and throat services. It is set to resume providing specialized care for issues related to the ear, nose, and throat, featuring a dedicated unit for pediatric surgery catering to children up to the age of 16. The 110-bed facility, equipped with digitized operating theaters and state-of-the-art equipment, will be operational 24/7, supported by a team of approximately 100 employees;
Brown Sequard Psychiatric Hospital in Beau-Bassin;
Subrahmanyam Bharati Eye Hospital in Moka;
Chest Hospital in Poudre d'Or .
Private clinics
In addition to hospitals, Mauritius is home to numerous private clinics offering a wide array of medical services. These services encompass general consultations, specialized services, dental care, diagnostic procedures, and mental health services.
Specialized services: Private clinics in Mauritius commonly provide specialized services in fields such as plastic surgery, cosmetic surgery, cardiology, ophthalmology, urology, and various other areas of specialized care.
Cost of care: The cost of healthcare in the private sector can vary based on the type of service, the clinic, and the extent of insurance coverage. Private healthcare can be relatively expensive, emphasizing the importance of having insurance coverage. A consultation with a general practitioner typically ranges from Rs 1,000 to Rs 3,000, depending on the clinic and tests conducted, while consultations with specialists can range from Rs 2,000 to Rs 6,000.
Travel for specialized treatment: For conditions requiring treatment beyond the island, patients can seek care at health centers in La Réunion, including the CHU Félix Guyon in Saint-Denis and its southern sites in Saint-Pierre, Saint-Joseph, and Cilaos.
You can find a list of all the private hospitals in Mauritius here.
For pathologies requiring travel outside the island, patients can go to the health centers of Reunion Island. In particular, the Félix Guyon University Hospital in Saint-Denis and its southern sites in Saint-Pierre, Saint-Joseph and Cilaos have high-performance technical facilities.
Private doctors in Mauritius
Mauritius presents a plethora of healthcare options, boasting a multitude of medical practices scattered throughout the country. Finding a healthcare professional tailored to your needs is a straightforward process – simply conduct a quick search on an online search engine. These searches often yield listings of various medical specialties, ranging from general practitioners to highly qualified specialists, facilitating the discovery of the right practitioner for specific healthcare requirements.
It's noteworthy that most doctor listings are typically organized by geographical area, simplifying the process of locating healthcare professionals in proximity to your residence. If the desired practitioner is not immediately found in your current region, consider expanding your search by adjusting the specified region on your search engine. This flexibility allows for the exploration of a broader spectrum of healthcare professionals across the island.
Additionally, apart from online research, personal recommendations from family, friends, or colleagues serve as an excellent resource for discovering trustworthy doctors. Feedback from individuals who have previously consulted a practitioner can offer valuable insights into the quality of care and the doctor's approach to patients.
Whether seeking general consultations, specialized care, or mental health services, the diverse array of healthcare professionals in Mauritius ensures that residents and visitors have a comprehensive range of options to address their specific medical needs.
You will find a list of private doctors in Mauritius here.
Useful link:
Ministry of Health and Wellness
Settling down in Mauritius if you suffer from a chronic disease
If you suffer from a chronic disease and are taking medication, take the time to find out about the availability of your prescriptions before your departure.
If possible, plan to have sufficient stock to maintain your treatment during the first months after your arrival in Mauritius.
All treatments must be supported by a prescription. Make sure to have this document at hand to present to customs upon arrival.
Moving to Mauritius with a disability
To counter the effects of the crisis that followed the COVID-19 pandemic, Mauritius is also banking on social inclusion as an economic lever. As a result, the government plans to approach organizations to make services, communities and workplaces more accessible to people with disabilities, such as training public agents in sign language, news bulletins in sign language twice a week, installation of equipment on certain beaches to allow people in wheelchairs to access the sea, installation of 40 floating beach wheelchairs, etc. While these measures are mostly available to the most disadvantaged Mauritians, they testify to the will of Mauritius to finally adapt to people with disabilities.
As for parents, here is an official list of the many NGOs that work tirelessly for the development of children with disabilities in Mauritius.
Pharmacy and medication in Mauritius
Foreigners traveling to Mauritius are allowed to bring common medicines for their personal use, provided that they carry a copy of the prescription at all times and that the medication has been dispensed in a pharmacy.
Tranquilizers, hypnotics, narcotics and other strong analgesics require prior authorization from the Ministry of Health.
When you are there, don't hesitate to ask your pharmacist if they can order the medication you need but have run out of. Always present a valid prescription.
Good to know:
Some medicines are not available in Mauritius, according to expats living on the island. These discussions on the English and French forums of the website have been created in order to list medications that may not be available. Do not hesitate to ask our members for advice.
Social security in Mauritius
There is a social security system in Mauritius. However, it does not cover the whole health sector.
Indeed, the "Mauritian Social Security" covers old age pensions, severe disabilities, eyeglasses, disability pensions, social assistance, rice and flour allowances, some funeral expenses (under conditions), redundancy, single mothers, children whose fathers are in prison, hearing aids, wheelchairs, elderly welfare and some loans (under conditions).
You are advised to check with the authorities in your country beforehand to see if there are any agreements between your local social security system and that of Mauritius.
It is also recommended to take out private health insurance before departure.
Useful link:
We do our best to provide accurate and up to date information. However, if you have noticed any inaccuracies in this article, please let us know in the comments section below.
