Clinics and Hospitals

Leading Private Clinics

Clinique Soma Santé ⭐⭐⭐

Profile: Premium clinic, modern equipment, French-speaking doctors

Address: Haie Vive (main site), with branches in Ganhi and Cadjehoun Phone: +229 21 31 50 50 (24h Emergency) Email: contact@clinique-soma.bj

Services:

• General and specialist consultations
• 24/7 emergency care
• Surgery
• Maternity
• Medical imaging (ultrasound, CT scan)
• Lab testing

Consultation fees:

• General practitioner: 20K–30K FCFA
• Specialist: 30K–50K FCFA
• Emergency surcharge: +30K FCFA

Good to know: Works with insurance providers, so bills are often reduced

Clinique la Cathédrale

Profile: Well-established clinic, solid reputation, affordable pricing

Address: Ganhi Centre Phone: +229 21 30 32 32

Services:

• General consultations
• Minor surgery
• Lab testing
• Radiology

Pricing: About 20% cheaper than Soma — good value for money

Cotonou Hospital (Public)

Profile: Public hospital, 24-hour emergency care, cheaper, busier

Address: Downtown, Ganhi Phone: +229 21 30 01 01

Services:

• 24/7 emergency care
• Emergency care plus inpatient admission
• Maternity
• Very low rates

Heads up: Expect queues and less comfortable conditions

Specialists in Cotonou

Cardiology

• Dr Akpogbe (Soma): +229 95 12 34 56
• Consultation: 40K FCFA

Gynecology-Obstetrics

• Dr Mensah (Cathédrale): +229 21 30 32 32
• Consultation: 35K FCFA
• Delivery: 500K–1M FCFA

Dentistry

• Cabinet Dent'Or (Haie Vive): +229 21 31 45 45
• Cleaning: 25K FCFA
• Root canal: 50K FCFA

Dermatology

• Dr Lawson (Soma): +229 21 31 50 50
• Consultation: 30K FCFA

Emergency Services

24/7 Emergency Care

Clinique Soma: +229 21 31 50 50 (recommended for expats) Cotonou Hospital: +229 21 30 01 01 (more affordable)

Ambulance emergencies

SAMU Benin: +229 21 30 06 66

• Ambulance plus doctor on board
• Cost: 50K FCFA plus consultation fee

Estimated Costs (2026)

Health Insurance for Expats

Options:

• Local insurance (NSIA, Colina): 100–300K FCFA/year
• International insurance (Allianz, AXA): 500K–2M FCFA/year
• Bank cards (some include emergency coverage)

Tip: Sort out insurance before you arrive if you can

Medication and Pharmacies

Availability: Common medications are widely available

Worth packing:

• Antihistamine (allergies)
• Anti-diarrheal
• Pain reliever (acetaminophen can be hard to find)
• Fever reducer
• Mosquito repellent cream

See our Pharmacies directory for the nearest 24-hour options.

Staying Healthy

Recommended vaccinations

• ✅ Yellow fever (lifetime immunity)
• ✅ Typhoid
• ✅ Hepatitis A
• ✅ Tetanus (booster)
• ⚠️ Malaria (prophylaxis such as Plaquenil)

Good habits

✅ Bottled or filtered water ✅ Cooked food ✅ Regular hand washing ✅ A treated mosquito net at night ✅ Cover up at dusk

⚠️ Avoid swimming in standing water ⚠️ Wash raw fruits and vegetables carefully

Tips for Expats

✅ Keep a copy of your insurance and prescriptions ✅ Know the location of the nearest clinics ✅ Bring enough of your personal medication ✅ Ask for itemized bills ✅ Keep your medical file up to date

⚠️ Insurance coverage can be limited ⚠️ Medical evacuation is expensive — check your policy's coverage ⚠️ Jet lag and travel fatigue can affect your health

Serious Emergencies

Medical evacuation: Call SAMU at +229 21 30 06 66 and your insurer immediately. Costs run 5–10M FCFA depending on destination.

Browse our full directory for all medical services, and reach out for personalized medical recommendations.