Health in The Islands of Tahiti

French Polynesia has the very best in modern medical services and infrastructure. Tahiti Hospital is equipped with the latest medical technology and is a point of reference in The Islands of Tahiti. Depending on the size of the population, each of the outlying islands has at least a hospital, medical dispensary, doctor’s office or nursing station, as well as emergency services. In the event of an emergency, patients are transferred by plane to Tahiti.

Medical services are readily available in The Islands of Tahiti. Large towns such as Papeete, Taravao (on the peninsula) and Uturoa in Raiatea, have hospitals and clinics. Every island has at least a pharmacy or nursing station to take care of the medical needs of the population.

Obligatory for all visitors

Tahiti Tourisme reminds all visitors who have been in a country where yellow fever is endemic that they must be vaccinated before coming to The Islands of Tahiti. Yellow fever is a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes and is present in Africa and America.

At the beginning of 2017, a yellow fever epidemic was declared in Brazil in the south of the state of Bahia, at the border with the states of Minais Gerais and Espirito Santo, as well as in the region of Rio de Janero and Sao Paulo. These regions share the same ecosystem, characterized by humid tropical forests. Visitors to these regions can carry the disease into other regions which are otherwise exempt of the virus. In accordance with international sanitary requirements, all visitors over nine years of age to The Islands of Tahiti, who have previously visited a country at risk, must be vaccinated against yellow fever. Proof of vaccination must be shown on arrival in Tahiti, together with the document as required for admission into French Polynesia.

Further information

For more detailed information about vaccinations and other recommendations, including those for yellow fever and malaria and for the list of countries with a risk of transmission of yellow fever and countries where vaccination against yellow fever is obligatory, visit the website of the World Health Organization.