Health in Cabo Verde

The public health system in Cabo Verde is coordinated by the Ministério da Saúde and its national and municipal services. The network recorded in 2022 included 33 Centros de Saúde, 19 Delegacias de Saúde, 4 Hospitais Regionais, 2 Hospitais Centrais, 41 Postos Sanitários and 98 Unidades Sanitárias de Base. Public and private pharmacies support access to medicines, while private clinics and laboratories complement public services when they are licensed by ERIS. A Centro de Saúde, Posto Sanitário or local Delegacia de Saúde is usually the first contact for outpatient care, prevention, vaccination, antenatal care, family planning, chronic treatment and basic examinations. Hospitais Regionais provide emergency care, outpatient and inpatient treatment, basic specialties, rehabilitation and referrals. The two central hospitals in Praia on Santiago and Mindelo on São Vicente provide complex and tertiary care. Referral and counter-referral records help connect treatment between these levels. Geography strongly affects access. Patients may need transport to another settlement or island, and specialist capacity and medicine supplies vary by location. Before travelling, confirm opening times, available services, medicine stocks, referral requirements and the transport arrangements for the specific island. Brava and Santo Antão have no working airport, which makes air evacuation difficult, while Boa Vista has particularly limited medical capacity. For an acute deterioration, contact the locally available emergency service or go to the nearest facility able to provide emergency care. Ambulance number 130 has been reported for Cabo Verde, but the local response and transport options should be confirmed when an emergency occurs. Do not delay urgent treatment while arranging a distant appointment. After treatment, keep the discharge plan, prescription, diagnostic results and referral record. Arrange follow-up with the treating unit or a health centre and actively coordinate any inter-island transfer. If Cabo Verde cannot provide the required specialist treatment, a Junta de Saúde can assess a referral abroad. The application may require a medical report, diagnostic results, BI, CNI or passport, and proof of poverty or an INPS document. Treatment coordination with Portugal uses the relevant DGS or SAGMED process, and citizens covered by the Cabo Verde–Portugal arrangement should wait for a confirmed appointment before travelling. The Constitution protects the right to health and assigns the State a duty to enable universal access for citizens. Patients still need to follow referral and appointment procedures and provide identity or eligibility documents. Childhood immunisation, antenatal care and family planning are reported as free, as is care for children under five. Primary care is free when inability to pay has been formally demonstrated. Exact charges for consultations, medicines, private treatment, transport, co-payments and evacuation depend on the facility, INPS arrangements or insurance and should be confirmed in advance. Visitors and non-citizens should verify access, payment and evacuation coverage directly before relying on treatment in Cabo Verde.