Senegal Healthcare System Guide

Dial: 15 (SAMU — medical emergency) or 17 (police) or 18 (fire — Sapeurs-Pompiers)

Typical response time: 15-30 minutes in Dakar. 30-60+ minutes in other cities. Rural areas: potentially hours.

Costs: Public ER: CFA 5,000-20,000 (€8-30). Private ER: CFA 20,000-100,000 (€30-150). Private admission: CFA 30,000-200,000/day (€45-300). Surgery (private): CFA 200,000-2,000,000 (€300-3,000). Air evacuation to France: €15,000-40,000+.

Call 15 for SAMU. Hôpital Principal de Dakar (military hospital — French-staffed, excellent ER) is the best emergency facility. SOS Médecins Dakar (+221 33 889 1515) provides doctor house calls — French-speaking. French is essential for emergency communication.

Walk-in at private clinics. SOS Médecins Dakar for house calls. Public dispensaires for residents. French-speaking doctors throughout.

Typical wait: Private clinic: same-day. SOS Médecins: 1-3 hours for house call. Public: 1-4 hours.

Typical cost: Private GP: CFA 15,000-40,000 (€23-60). Specialist: CFA 25,000-80,000 (€38-120). SOS Médecins house call: CFA 25,000-50,000 (€38-75). Lab tests: CFA 5,000-50,000 (€8-75).

Good in Dakar. Basic in Saint-Louis, Thiès, Mbour/Saly. Limited in Ziguinchor and the Casamance. Very limited in rural Senegal.

Recommended: Yellow Fever (MANDATORY), Routine vaccines (MMR, DTP, Polio, Flu), COVID-19, Hepatitis A (strongly recommended), Hepatitis B, Typhoid (strongly recommended), Meningococcal (dry season — December-June), Rabies (pre-exposure for extended stays), Cholera (for rural travel), Malaria prophylaxis (ESSENTIAL — entire country is high-risk year-round)

Yellow Fever certificate is MANDATORY. Malaria is the #1 health risk — Senegal is high-transmission year-round. Prophylaxis essential (Malarone, doxycycline, or mefloquine). DEET repellent and bed nets critical. Meningococcal meningitis risk during dry season (Sahel belt). Cholera outbreaks occur. Rabies present in stray dogs.

Insurance required for visa: no

Public coverage for visitors: no

Many European nationalities enter visa-free. Others use e-Visa system. Senegal is one of West Africa's most stable and welcoming countries.

Private GP visit: CFA 15,000-40,000 (€23-60) per consultation

Emergency care without insurance: Private ER: CFA 20,000-100,000 (€30-150). Admission: CFA 30,000-200,000/day. Air evacuation to France: €15,000-40,000+.

Medication: Medications available at pharmacies in Dakar — French-branded medications standard. Pharmacies (pharmacie) follow French pharmaceutical traditions. Stock limited outside Dakar. Prescription required for most medications. Antimalarials widely available.

Hours: Mon-Sat 8am-8pm in Dakar. Pharmacie de garde (duty pharmacy) rotation for after-hours.

Over the counter: French pharmaceutical standards. Good range in Dakar pharmacies. Limited in rural areas.

Controlled substances: Carry doctor's letter in French for all medications. Drug laws are strict — cannabis possession carries severe penalties.

• Yellow Fever certificate is strictly enforced — you WILL be denied entry without it
• Malaria is a serious, year-round risk — prophylaxis and DEET are not optional
• French is essential for healthcare — English is very limited even in Dakar
• Hôpital Principal de Dakar (military hospital) is the best facility — French-staffed, high quality
• SOS Médecins Dakar provides house calls — just like in France
• Healthcare quality drops dramatically outside Dakar
• Senegal's French medical tradition means quality is higher than most West African countries
• The Casamance region has security concerns AND limited healthcare — check advisories

• Hôpital Principal de Dakar (+221 33 839 5050) — French-staffed military hospital, best ER in West Africa
• SOS Médecins Dakar (+221 33 889 1515) for doctor house calls — French-speaking
• Clinique de la Madeleine and Clinique du Cap for private specialist care
• Yellow Fever: vaccinate at least 10 days before travel
• Malaria prophylaxis: start before arrival. DEET repellent and bed nets essential.
• French medical phrases: "J'ai besoin d'un médecin" (I need a doctor), "C'est urgent" (It's urgent)
• Drink bottled water only — waterborne disease risk throughout Senegal
• Travel insurance with evacuation to France recommended for serious conditions