Antananarivo - Post Report Question and Answers
Are there any particular health concerns? What is the quality of available medical care? What medical conditions typically require medical evacuation?
Health care only ok for basic stuff. - Jul 2020
I wouldn't want to have a medical emergency here. Basically all complex cases require medical evacuation. Some simple cases become complex due to treatment received locally. - Mar 2017
Medical care is a bit rough. Embassy has a health unit with FT medical provider and medevac to Pretoria at the first sign of something 'good,' so that should tell you something. Emergency services are minimal, no 911. Trauma services are dire... have medevac insurance!!! There are a few clinics that provide reasonable primary care, but even with a good provider, the equipment and supplies are minimal. Medications often from France are actually decent. - Jun 2016
Numerous. I think there may have been two solid months since arriving that my children weren't hacking or had runny noses. We are a healthy bunch, but we are no match for Madagascar. I can't tell you the number of times I had to consult Dr. Google with the query "is this just a bad cold, or is it the Plague" (yes, they still have the Plague here). - Oct 2015
People seem to have problems here with environmental allergies from mold, pollen and dust. I think that if you are asthmatic it might be difficult here. Everyone we know gets mild to moderate stomach problems from time to time - usually from ingesting something that wasn't properly cleaned. You do not need to take anti-malarials in Tana, but you should take them when traveling many places outside of the capital. The embassy has a good clinic, but all major medical problems must be taken care of by medevac (usually to South Africa). Medical care here is very limited. - Apr 2013
Malaria is not common (and most say not found) in the capital of Antananarivo, but a big problem on the coasts. Typhoid cases are during every rain season. Cholera cases in the rainy season. Pollution is bad and there is a general lack of good hygiene. - Dec 2008
