Issuance of entry visas for the purpose of treatment is not provided.

Medicine on the island is paid. Residents and visitors must take out medical policies individually. No special vaccinations are required. A certificate of vaccination against yellow fever is required only from travelers who have spent more than one year in areas where the disease is prevalent.

Hepatitis is considered quite common, as are bacillary and amoebic dysentery. Outbreaks of tropical and hemorrhoidal fever are sometimes recorded. Typhus can occur in rural areas.

Cases of insect-borne dengue fever have been reported in the region. Travelers are advised to buy plenty of insect repellent and dress to cover skin.

It is also possible to contract rabies from wild animals in the country, and travelers who have been bitten by wild dogs or cats should clean the wound before examining it for signs of infection.

Tourists planning to visit beaches that carry additional swimming hazards, including jellyfish, sea urchins and dangerous coral, should take extra care.

There are three public hospitals on the island: Marigot Hospital, Portsmouth Hospital and Princess Margaret Hospital. Intensive care units are available at Portsmouth Hospital and Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH). In many medical facilities, the staff may not speak English or may not have the resources to treat more serious conditions. Your health insurance policy should cover emergency evacuation. Private clinics in large cities accept payment for services in cash.