Honduras Healthcare System Guide
How the healthcare system works in Honduras — emergency numbers, GP access, vaccines, insurance and medical costs for visitors and expats.
Healthcare system overview
Honduras has a developing healthcare system with significant urban-rural divide. Private hospitals in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula are reasonable. Bay Islands (Roatán, Utila) have basic clinics only — serious cases require air transfer to the mainland or Miami. Public hospitals are overcrowded.
System type: Mixed public-private. Decent private hospitals in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula.
Emergency numbers & response
Dial: 911
Typical response time: 15-30 min in cities. Bay Islands/rural: 30+ min.
Costs: Public ER: free. Private ER: $50-400.
Call 911. Hospital Centro Médico (private) in Tegucigalpa. Roatán: Cornerstone Hospital or Wood Medical Center.
Seeing a doctor as a visitor
Walk-in at private clinics in major cities.
Typical wait: Private: same-day. Public: hours.
Typical cost: $25-60 private GP visit.
Good in Tegucigalpa/San Pedro Sula. Basic on Bay Islands. Minimal rural.
Vaccines for travel
Recommended: Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Tetanus booster, Rabies, Malaria prophylaxis (Mosquito Coast)
Dengue and Zika present. Malaria on Caribbean/Mosquito Coast. Use repellent and long sleeves.
Insurance & visa health requirements
Insurance required for visa: no
Public coverage for visitors: limited
CA-4 agreement: 90 days total across Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua.
Documents to prepare:
- Passport
- Travel insurance with evacuation
- Prescriptions
Typical medical costs
Private GP visit: $25-60
Emergency care without insurance: $50-500. Surgery: $1,500-6,000. Evacuation from Bay Islands: $5,000-15,000.
Medication: Affordable. Pharmacy chains (Farmacias Kielsa) widespread in cities. Limited on Bay Islands.
Pharmacies & medication
Hours: Mon-Sat 8am-7pm. Some 24hr pharmacies in major cities.
Over the counter: Good range in cities. Limited on islands.
Controlled substances: Carry prescriptions. Drug laws are very strict.
Things that catch visitors out in Honduras
- Roatán and Utila have only basic clinics — diving injuries need air transfer to mainland
- Private hospitals in Tegucigalpa are affordable and decent quality
- Ambulance service is unreliable outside major cities
- Many areas lack clean running water — drink only bottled
- CA-4 visa: 90 days across 4 countries combined, not per country
Practical tips for travellers
- Hospital Centro Médico (Tegucigalpa) — best private hospital
- Honduras Medical Center (San Pedro Sula) — good private facility
- Roatán: Cornerstone Hospital (West End) or Wood Medical Center (Coxen Hole) for basic care
- Diving on Bay Islands? Confirm your dive operator has DAN insurance and decompression chamber access
- Medical evacuation insurance essential for Bay Islands — nearest advanced care is mainland or Miami
- Tap water NOT safe anywhere — bottled water only
Have a travel question about Honduras?
Ask Alex, our AI travel companion, gives members country-specific travel answers about local hospitals, English-speaking doctors, pharmacy rules and more — for Honduras and 170+ other countries. It does not provide personal medical advice.