Mauritius is an island state on the coast of the Indian Ocean, one of the richest on the African continent. It is a sought-after country for travel due to its lagoons, reefs, and beaches. A decent level of services on the island exists not only in the tourism industry but also in the field of medicine. Mauritius has a well-developed healthcare system for the local population. Whether you are a resident, an emigrant, or a tourist, it is important to understand how the health care system in that state works.

On the island, services are provided in two ways:

• State system of medical treatment.

• Private practice.

The main part of the medical field in Mauritius is funded by the government and controlled by the Ministry of Health. In public hospitals, the provision of services is free of charge and at a low economic level. They usually lack modern infrastructure, equipment, or medicines. These public institutions also have very long waiting times in queues.

Treatment in private clinics is paid. Thanks to high investment, most private medical facilities are modern and well-equipped. Hence, the country has seen a rise in the medical tourism industry. Most diseases can be treated in Mauritius, but some doctors require patients to travel abroad for medical care. The most common places to get a quality treatment regimen abroad include Reunion Island, India, and South Africa.

Treatment abroad on about. Mauritius: a guide to the main clinics

Public health services expanded with several hospitals, and dispensaries in the cities and villages of Mauritius. These services are free and available to everyone who lives in Mauritius. The treatment of the population is provided in many public hospitals such as:

1. Victoria Hospital (Kandos, Plain-Wilhems area). ENT hospital is considered a specialized hospital for patients with otorhinolaryngological diseases.

2. Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital (Rose Belle). The general hospital includes pediatric, oncological, and gynecological departments; general medicine, and surgery.

3. Flacq Hospital (Flacq District). It is also a state general clinic and has the following divisions: department of gynecology and obstetrics, general surgery, intensive care and anesthesiology, pediatric unit, and others.

There are several private clinics in Mauritius that are very well-equipped to provide emergency care. Medical centers, open 24 hours a day, are located in Mauritian cities, and villages and offer a wide range of necessary services.

The most famous are:

1. Clinique du Nord, Tombo Bay.

2. Fortis Clinique Darné, Floreal.

3. Wellkin Hospital, Moka.

4. Clinique de Grand-Baie, Grand Baie.

5. City Clinic, Port Louis.

6. Nouvelle Clinique Ferrière, Courpipe.

These private medical services, located throughout the island, offer state-of-the-art equipment to provide the highest level of care. Unlike public hospitals, medical treatment in these institutions is not free, but the services are of a higher quality.

Recommendations for foreign residents

As mentioned earlier, health care for the local population of Mauritius is funded by the state on a free basis. If you are planning a trip to the island as an emigrant or tourist, if necessary, medical expenses are paid at your own expense. It is for this reason that you need to take care of travel insurance. Comprehensive international health insurance should include emergency evacuation coverage in case of an emergency. Another important point, the larger the amount of insurance coverage, the better, especially in the current conditions associated with COVID-19.

You can buy insurance on the  website, where you can choose this service of several categories, as well as travel insurance with covid coverage. In this case, the services are provided and paid not directly at the local hospital, but through the host, the company indicated in the health insurance. For urgent medical care in Mauritius, you need to call an ambulance. You can use the services of both private and public clinics, but they differ in quality and efficiency.