On Roatán, there are several private clinics as well as a public hospital. The public hospital is the municipal hospital and is the best equipped to take care of emergencies on Roatán. However, emergency services are basic and the hospital often runs out of medication. The infrastructure of the municipal hospital is less than ideal and for anything serious, patients have to be transferred to a mainland hospital. The medical personnel is competent, but they lack a proper infrastructure. However, they are very devoted and they make things work with what they have.

Some specialists come to the island from the mainland about once a week. Foreign medical volunteers also come to help on a regular basis. Local groups of volunteers are also working to raise funds and provide supplies to the hospital, in order to improve conditions. Medicines for Roatán is a non-profit founded by Nora El Gouli, a British Doctor in Pharmacy, to help the municipal hospital get the medication it needs. The project is sponsored by Global Healing, an International non-profit organization. They are based in West End and receive visiting pediatricians on a regular basis who work at the municipal hospital.

Private clinics tend to have a better infrastructure for common medical problems, but they are not necessarily equipped for serious emergencies. They are open only during the day. The Cornerstone Clinic at Anthony’s Key Resort in Sandy Bay is staffed with U.S. trained physicians. It is equipped for X-rays and has a hyperbaric chamber. Miss Peggy’s clinic is also located in Sandy Bay and has a U.S. trained physician as well as visiting foreign volunteer personnel. Those two clinics are the closest to West Bay and West End. The Woods clinic in Coxen Hole is equipped for X-rays and many local physicians and dentists have offices there. There is a new medical clinic in the Megaplaza in Mount Pleasant, where several specialists work on a regular basis. Little Friends Foundation has sponsored the building of two clinics in the east end of the island. This non-profit organization has been founded by Kandy Hyde, a nurse from Roatán, who does wonderful work on the island to improve medical care. There is also a good physiotherapy clinic in Coxen Hole.

Local doctors also have offices throughout the island. There are some excellent and very dedicated doctors who speak English on Roatán, and they are listed in this book. Visits to doctors cost about $12 to $15. There are also good dentists who speak English. Please note that the hyperbaric chamber at the Fantasy Island Resort is currently out of commission.

All of the persons above are very dedicated to improving conditions and can be helpful if you find yourself in a difficult medical situation. Please note that it is not always possible to find medication that is used in North America or Europe, so you may want to stock on your medications prior to arriving in Honduras. The medication is not the same, although it is much cheaper.