Tahiti - Health Services

Medical Care

French Polynesia enjoys a high standard of health, with excellent medical and dental services, pharmacies, private clinics and a large government hospital in Tahiti, which is open 24 hours. The outer islands have hospitals or dispensaries, and a few private practitioners.

There are no snakes, poisonous spiders or fearsome animals in these islands. Hotels and dispensaries on each tourist island and atoll keep first aid supplies on hand to treat coral cuts, sunburn and the extremely rare case of poisoning, when the barefoot swimmer steps on the toxic spines of the stonefish. All the islands maintain hygienic controls to combat potential epidemics of tropical diseases, such as the dengue fever.

Please take precaution and do not overexpose your body to the tropical sun. Tennis shoes or plastic sandals are recommended when walking on the reefs and in the lagoons of Polynesia.

Water

Tap water in the hotels and restaurants is safe to drink. Local mineral waters and all sorts of French mineral waters are available.

Health Certification

Certificates of inoculations against cholera, yellow fever and the plague are required for visitors arriving from an infected area as defined by the World Health Organization.

Hospitals & Clinics in Papeete

In French Polynesia, medical care is generally very satisfactory and medical infrastructure is comparable to what you would find in most developed countries. The most modern facilities are located in Tahiti.

Hospitals and private clinics are mostly concentrated in Papeete. The most famous and modern entities are the Mamao City Hospital as well as Cardella and Paofai private clinics. They are open 24 hours. But you will also find an hospital in Raiatea, Nuku Hiva as well as large infirmaries in the Australs and Tuamotu archipelagoes.

• Hospital Mamao : Tel (689) 42 01 01 or (689) 46 62 62

• Clinic Cardella : Tel (689) 46 04 25

• Clinic Paofai : Tel (689) 46 18 18

This emergency unit of doctors and medical personnel will come to your hotel in Tahiti to attend to your needs :* SOS Medecins : Tel (689) 42 34 56

Pharmacies

You will find many pharmacies in Papeete area and several around the island. The pharmacies rotate night and weekend or holiday duty. You can check with your hotel to find out which one is open.