Comments on Medical provision.

These are some of the comments received from people that have moved to Sal:..........

• Medical provision is not as good as in Europe. You will need insurance for serious injuries and illnesses which will include an emergency flight to another country.

• Being admitted to the hospital in Espargos for a few days may mean you will need someone to bring you meals.

• Praia and Sao Vicente have better hospitals but best to fly to Europe for anything serious. There is a new hospital in Espargos on Sal.

• The Medical Clinic in Murdeira is sometimes closes for periods at a time. The Doctor that runs he Clnic is a Gynaecologist and he now helps out at the hospital in espargos when needed.

• A lady fell down the stairs, calls were made to the hospitals and doctors, and it took 3hrs for someone to come out to her to confirm a broken leg.

• For all major illness you need to fly to Sao Vicente or Praia in Santiago. Brazil is another option that people seem to take. But now with the direct flights from and to UK, that is another option, but you may have to wait to see if you can get on a flight which maybe in a few days.

• Cliniture is a clinic in Santa Maria, they have a nuber of Doctors that coe and work there, some from South America. Most expats use this clinic. They also offer a monthly payment plan for families which covers you for certain things. Some of the doctors speak English. They also have beds for overnight stays which you have to pay for privately and supply your travel insurance information if a tourist. The doctors there say Expats living on the island should have the Hepatitis 'A' jab every June, before the rainy season starts.

• Stock up on all medication you think you may need if moving to Sal...although paracetemol is widely available here!

• Question: Someone working over there recommends having all the jabs, as if I was going to live in Africa, is that right? ......... I went to the doctor and asked what jabs to get - I had all the ones they recommended, some people say none are needed, but if your Doctor recommends them, I always think its better to be safe than sorry. *Some people do get adverse affects which could last a while.

ANSWER: Check the link for vaccinations required under the article 'Health Care- Sal'.

• A friend had a problem with a lack of access to medication due her tablets going missing with her luggage. There was a Doctor who spoke English who was willing to see her later that day. He was holding a surgery in the Hotel Rui on one of the evenings. However, my friend decided to try the hospital in Espargos in the morning, the Doctor at the hospital provided a prescription and my friend was able to get her tablets immediately from the Pharmacy.

• Some medicines may need you to obtain a prescription, that’s ok, just take it to the Doctors here or the hospital where there is a Doctor. Medication isn't too expensive.

• It cost me 50euros to have some checks done and be diagnosed with Bronchitis at Murdeira Clinic. Then there is a further cost for the medication.

• Someone working here went to one of the hospitals due to having constant stomach pains (2006). Following a brief diagnosis they thought it was serious and said she may need some sort of operation. She went to another hospital and the Doctor there diagnosed a water infection and treated her accordingly. Something similar has happened to a few Expats.

Note : check on the recommended website which advises on vaccinations for Cape Verde. The link is under the Health Care & Vaccinations article on this site.