What should you know about healthcare and emergencies in Roatán?
Emergency number
911
Ambulance: 195.
Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: roatan.online, aboutroatanrealestate.com
Good to know
Good to Know
- 911 is the single number to remember on Roatan for police, fire, or ambulance — it's the same digits as in the US/Canada, which is convenient for most nomads.
- Response times and language support can be inconsistent outside of tourist-dense areas like West End and West Bay; if you don't speak Spanish, having a local contact (hotel staff, dive shop, landlord) call on your behalf can speed things up considerably.
- For serious medical situations, travel insurance with medical evacuation coverage is worth having before you need it — inter-island evacuation to the mainland is a real possibility and isn't something 911 itself arranges for you.
- Save both 911 and your accommodation/dive shop's direct number in your phone; local, in-person help often mobilizes faster than a cold emergency call from a visitor unfamiliar with the island.
- There is no US-style Level I/II/III trauma center on Roatán; for major trauma, locals and long-term residents often plan for medevac or transfer to larger hospitals in San Pedro Sula or La Ceiba on the mainland.
- The two private hospitals — Wood Medical Center and Hospital CEMESA — are generally considered the most capable options for serious emergencies, but are also more expensive than the public hospital.
- Comprehensive travel/medical insurance that explicitly covers medevac is strongly recommended, since air ambulance capacity on the island has historically been limited and inconsistent.
- Clínica Esperanza and similar community clinics are excellent for everyday medical needs and cost very little, but they are not equipped to handle major trauma — go directly to Wood Medical Center, Hospital CEMESA, or the public hospital's ER for serious injuries.
- If a scuba diving injury (decompression sickness) is suspected, the hyperbaric chamber at Anthony's Key Resort in Sandy Bay is the relevant specialized resource.
Emergency Numbers
How To Dial
- Country Code
- +504 (only needed if calling a direct, non-911 local number from abroad or a foreign SIM without local roaming)
- From Local Honduran SIM
- Dial 911 directly (no country code needed).
- From Foreign Mobile Roaming
- Dial 911 as you would at home; most GSM phones and Honduran networks route 911 to local emergency dispatch. If that fails, the full local number can be dialed as +504 plus the 8-digit number.
Official Safety Apps
- Found Dedicated Roatan Or Honduras Government App
- No
- Notes
- No verified, currently-maintained official Honduran government emergency app specific to Roatan or the 911 system was identified in research. U.S. citizens are commonly advised to enroll in the State Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) for alerts, and to check the U.S. Embassy Tegucigalpa's page for updates; travelers from other countries should check their own foreign ministry's equivalent registration/alert service. These are general travel-safety tools, not a Roatan-specific 911 app.
Practical Local Backups
- Tourist Police
- Roatan has a dedicated Tourist Police unit set up specifically to serve visitors in tourist areas; ask your hotel/dive shop for the current direct contact, as personal cell numbers for tourist police officers change over time and are not reliably published.
- Medical Evacuation
- For serious medical emergencies, inter-island medical evacuation (e.g., to La Ceiba or San Pedro Sula on the mainland) is typically arranged through local clinics/hospitals rather than dialed directly by tourists; travel insurance with medevac coverage is strongly advised before relying on this.
- Private Resort Security
- Most hotels, resorts, and dive operations on Roatan maintain their own private security and can help coordinate with police/ambulance faster than a cold 911 call from someone unfamiliar with the island.
Legacy Service Specific Numbers
Fire (Cuerpo De Bomberos)
- Number
- 198
- Notes
- Older direct line to the fire department, still listed by some directories alongside 911.
Ambulance / Red Cross
- Number
- 195
- Notes
- Historic Red Cross/ambulance line; some sources also list 199 for ambulance/police. There is inconsistency across sources on 195 vs 199 — 911 is the safest default to dial.
Universal National Emergency Number
- Number
- 911
- Notes
- Operators may primarily speak Spanish; having a Spanish-speaking local or hotel/dive-shop staff assist with the call is recommended if you don't speak Spanish.
- Description
- Honduras operates a unified national emergency dispatch system (Sistema Nacional de Emergencias 911) covering police, fire, and ambulance. This is the number to use as a default anywhere on Roatan, including nomad-relevant areas like West End and West Bay.
Hospitals
Wood Medical Center (Hospital Wood)
- Type
- Private hospital
- Hours
- 24 hours, 7 days a week for emergency/ER services
- Location
- Coxen Hole, on the main road through town along the waterfront (near the curve in the main road)
- Trauma Capability
- Advertises 24-hour 'emergency and trauma care' with an operating room, radiology and lab on-site, plus air-ambulance arrangement for critical cases; Honduras does not use a US-style Level I/II/III trauma center designation, so it is not formally 'trauma-level' certified — it functions as the island's main private full-service hospital.
- Notes
- One of two private hospitals most commonly recommended by locals/expats for serious emergencies on the island; considered more modern/expensive than the public hospital.
Hospital CEMESA Roatán
- Type
- Private hospital (branch of Hospital CEMESA, San Pedro Sula)
- Hours
- 24 hours for emergency care
- Location
- 2nd floor of Mega Plaza mall, French Harbour
- Trauma Capability
- Offers 24-hour emergency services, imaging (X-ray, ultrasound, CT scan, mammogram) and operating rooms; no formal US-style trauma-level designation exists in Honduras.
- Notes
- Positioned as more centralized on the island, improving access for the East End; supported remotely by CEMESA specialists based in San Pedro Sula on the mainland.
Roatán Public Hospital / Provisional Hospital (Hospital Provisional De Roatán)
- Type
- Public hospital (Honduran Ministry of Health system)
- Hours
- 24 hours (public ER)
- Location
- Coxen Hole
- Trauma Capability
- A renovated 'Provisional Hospital' handed over to the Ministry of Health has a fully operational Emergency Room and a functioning operating room for surgical cases; no formal trauma-center certification exists, and the facility historically has had resource limitations compared to the private hospitals.
- Notes
- Free/low-cost but can be under-resourced; a new, larger Specialty Hospital is planned as a further upgrade to the island's public healthcare capacity.
Clínica Esperanza ("Nurse Peggy's Clinic")
- Type
- Non-profit community outpatient clinic
- Hours
- Standard clinic/business hours (outpatient walk-in clinic; not a 24-hour trauma ER)
- Location
- Sandy Bay, just down the road from Anthony's Key Resort
- Trauma Capability
- Primarily an outpatient/community health clinic offering adult, pediatric, dental, women's health, lab and pharmacy services, plus a birthing center; it is not equipped as a trauma or major-emergency receiving hospital and would refer serious trauma cases to Wood Medical Center, CEMESA, or the public hospital.
- Notes
- Known for low-cost/no-cost care for residents; a well-regarded first stop for non-critical medical issues.
UNIMED / Urgent Care Center
- Type
- Private urgent-care walk-in clinic
- Hours
- Open 24 hours a day
- Location
- Coconut Tree Plaza, West End Rd, West End
- Trauma Capability
- A walk-in urgent care center for minor injuries and illnesses with a doctor available 24/7, X-rays, and arrangement of ground/air ambulance; it is not a trauma-capable hospital and refers higher-acuity cases to local hospital facilities.
- Notes
- Convenient for tourists in West End/West Bay for non-life-threatening issues; not a substitute for a hospital ER in a major trauma.
Anthony's Key Resort (AKR) Medical Clinic
- Type
- On-site resort medical clinic
- Hours
- Not confirmed as 24/7; primarily staffed to support resort guests and divers
- Location
- Sandy Bay, on the Anthony's Key Resort property
- Trauma Capability
- Notable mainly as home to the island's only hyperbaric chamber, used for treating diving-related decompression injuries; open to the general community, not just divers, but it is not a general trauma/ER facility.
- Notes
- The go-to resource specifically for scuba diving emergencies (decompression sickness).
Healthcare
- Overview
- Roatan has improved healthcare access significantly with modern private facilities and traditional public options. Multiple hospitals and clinics serve residents and visitors across the island.
- Quality Caveat
- Some travel sources note that facilities may not match US/European standards, though major private facilities are modern and well-equipped.
- Access Notes
- Medical care available across all regions of island. Private facilities (Cemesa, GARM) offer international standards. Public facilities adequate for basic care. Many doctors from Cemesa San Pedro Sula rotate to Roatan. Specialist access may require mainland referral.
Facilities
Hospital Cemesa Roatan
- Type
- Private Hospital
- Location
- French Harbor (MegaPlaza, 2nd floor)
- Key Services
- 24-hour emergency care, surgical procedures, outpatient services (internal medicine, pediatrics, gynecology, obstetrics, dermatology, ophthalmology, orthopedics, physiotherapy, pain therapy, odontology), diagnostic imaging, CT scan, air ambulance, pharmacy 24/7
- Note
- State-of-the-art facility opened 2016, affiliated with CEMESA medical group in San Pedro Sula, considered one of Honduras's best hospitals
Satuyé Hospital (Also Known As Hospital Roatan)
- Type
- Public Hospital
- Location
- Loma Linda area
- Key Services
- 62 beds, emergency care, surgical facilities, gynecology, pediatrics, internal medicine, general surgery, orthopedics, traumatology, oxygen generation plant, outpatient consultations
- Note
- Recently opened (September 2025), modern facility with expanded specialties compared to previous public hospital
Woods Medical Center (Woods Clinic)
- Type
- Private Clinic
- Location
- Coxen Hole (downtown)
- Key Services
- Outpatient services, general healthcare, financial counseling for medical expenses
- Note
- Well-regarded clinic in downtown Coxen Hole
Clinica Esperanza
- Type
- Non-profit Clinic
- Location
- West Bay (near Anthony's Key Resort)
- Key Services
- Low-cost/no-cost healthcare, pharmacy with over 64,000 prescriptions dispensed annually, laboratory services (hematology, chemistry, serological tests, tropical diseases testing), general medical consultations
- Note
- Serves local population with affordable/free care
Alert International Rescue (24/7 Emergency)
- Type
- Emergency Response Service
- Location
- West Bay Mall, West Bay
- Key Services
- 24/7 ambulance and emergency medical services, accepts international medical insurance
- Note
- Rapid emergency response capability
Anthony's Key Resort Clinic
- Type
- Resort Medical Facility
- Location
- West End
- Key Services
- On-site clinic, hyperbaric chamber (only one on island, critical for dive emergencies)
- Note
- Essential for treating diving-related injuries
GARM (Global Alliance for Regenerative Medicine)
- Type
- Specialized Clinic
- Location
- Parrot Tree Plantation, past French Harbor
- Key Services
- Regenerative medicine, advanced laboratories and treatment facilities, monthly clinic at Infinity Bay Resort (West Bay)
- Note
- Specialty clinic focusing on regenerative/alternative medicine
Pricing
- General Note
- Prices vary between pharmacies; generally lower than US but not dramatically cheaper for all drugs
Examples
- Blood Pressure Generic
- ~USD 0.15 per pill (varies by pharmacy)
- Amoxicillin 500mg 50 100 Caps
- ~USD 28
- Tadalafil Generic Single Dose 20mg
- ~USD 7.50 (vs US brand price ~USD 30)
Locations
Eldon's Supermarket Pharmacy
- Type
- Supermarket pharmacy
- Hours
- Daily 7am–8pm
- Location
- Coxen Hole (main location) and French Harbor
Pharmacy at MegaPlaza
- Type
- Shopping center pharmacy
- Location
- French Harbor (same complex as Hospital Cemesa)
Pharmacy Near Airport
- Type
- Independent
- Location
- Between Eldon's gas station and airport (north side of road)
Multiple Independent Farmacias
- Type
- Independent
- Locations
- Coxen Hole, French Harbor, West End
Pharmacies ('farmacias') are widespread and easily accessible across Roatan. Medication availability generally good; most common medications can be purchased without prescription.
Expat Advice
Bring supplies of essential medications plus prescriptions and doctor's letter from home to avoid gaps. Verify medication legality in Honduras (some drugs legal elsewhere are restricted). Language support not guaranteed; Spanish knowledge or translation app helpful
Quality Notes
Most medications appear to be genuine; possible counterfeit drugs exist but uncommon. Check expiration dates (some reports of expired stock). Pharmacist availability and language support variable
Pharmacy Distribution
Most popular pharmacies concentrated in Coxen Hole; also found in French Harbor, West End, and other populated areas
Medication Availability
Most common medications available including antibiotics (amoxicillin), blood pressure medications. Some specialties/controlled drugs unavailable (e.g., oxycodone). Availability can vary and items may be out of stock; plan ahead for regular medications
Prescription Requirements
No prescription required for most medications, even those requiring prescriptions in US/other countries. Must know generic or brand name (Spanish names may differ from home country names)
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this emergencies research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
- 1.roatan.online
- 2.aboutroatanrealestate.com
- 3.roatanet.com
- 4.oasisroatancondohotels.com
- 5.roatantourismbureau.com
- 6.roatantourismbureau.com
- 7.hondurastravel.com
- 8.coconuttreedivers.com
- 9.virtualroatansolar.com
- 10.casaflomingoroatan.com
- 11.roatanbackpackers.com
- 12.expat.com
- 13.wheretoemigrate.io
- 14.exploringroatan.com
- 15.lifeonroatan.com
- 16.confiduss.com
- 17.roatantourismbureau.com
- 18.blog.starryblu.com
- 19.expatexchange.com
- 20.exploringroatan.com
- 21.clinicaesperanza.org
- 22.tripadvisor.com
- 23.clinicaesperanza.org
- 24.arrivalguides.com
- 25.expatexchange.com
- 26.expatexchange.com
- 27.xe.com
- 28.riamoneytransfer.com
- 29.tradingeconomics.com
More About Roatán
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.