Health & Pharmacies on La Palma 2026
La Palma has an excellent basic medical infrastructure. A modern island hospital, several public health centres (Centros de Salud), a comprehensive pharmacy network, and English and German-speaking private doctors ensure that medical help is readily available even on holiday.
Quick Help in an Emergency
| Service | Phone Number | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| General Emergency Number | 112 | Free of charge, around the clock. Police, fire brigade, and emergency services. English-speaking interpreters available on request. |
| Medical Emergency Service | 061 | Direct emergency line for the ambulance service (Ambulancia). |
| Hospital General de La Palma | +34 922 18 50 00 | The island’s main hospital, located in Breña Alta. |
Hospital & Health Centres
| Facility | Information |
|---|---|
| Hospital General de La Palma | Breña Alta (above Santa Cruz). Modern emergency department (Urgencias) open around the clock. |
| Centro de Salud Santa Cruz de La Palma | Near the harbour. Emergency department open 24 hours. |
| Centro de Salud Los Llanos de Aridane | The most important public point of contact on the west side. Emergency department open 24 hours. |
| Centros de Salud El Paso, Tazacorte and San Andrés y Sauces | GP services during the day. After 8.00 pm and at weekends, patients are redirected to the responsible emergency centre. |
German-Speaking Doctors on La Palma
All the practices listed are private practices. Treatment is paid for on the spot and can then be claimed back through your private travel insurance. The EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) is not valid there.
| Practice | Services | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| MediCenter La Palma | General medicine, orthopaedics, accident surgery, sports medicine, acupuncture, and pain therapy | Dr. med. Dominik M. Reister & Dra. Eva María Vela Prieto Carretera La Laguna–Tazacorte 42, 38769 La Laguna ☎ +34 922 40 30 90, Mobile: +34 655 53 30 34 Consultation hours: Mon, Tue, Thu & Fri 09:30–13:30, and by appointment |
| Dr. med. Claus Voss | General medicine, naturopathy, acupuncture, and homoeopathy | Calle Espigón 20, 38750 Tajuya / El Paso ☎ +34 922 48 60 28 |
| Dr. med. Siegfried Kapser | General medicine and pain therapy | Avenida El Puente 31 (5th floor), 38700 Santa Cruz de La Palma Mobile: +34 649 08 07 08 |
| Lothar Hoetzel | Dentistry | Avenida Venezuela 11 – 2º B, 38760 Los Llanos de Aridane ☎ +34 922 46 04 19 Phone appointments: Monday to Friday 09:00–13:00 |
Pharmacies & Out-of-Hours Service
Pharmacies (Farmacias) are identified by the green cross. They are well distributed across the island and offer competent advice even for minor complaints.
Farmacia de Guardia
There is a duty pharmacy (Farmacia de Guardia) open daily in every region.
If a pharmacy is closed, a notice on the entrance door shows the address of the currently on-duty Farmacia de Guardia.
The current on-duty pharmacy can also be found on the website of the Colegio Oficial de Farmacéuticos de Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Useful Pharmacy Vocabulary
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| Pharmacy | farmacia |
| Out-of-hours pharmacy | farmacia de guardia |
| Painkiller | analgésico |
| Plasters | tiritas |
| Sunburn | quemadura de sol |
| Insect sting / bite | picadura de insecto |
| Disinfectant | desinfectante |
| Diarrhoea | diarrea |
EHIC or Private Travel Health Insurance?
The EHIC or GHIC (for UK residents) covers medically necessary treatment at the public health centres and at the Hospital General de La Palma.
The following are not covered, among other things:
- Treatment by private doctors
- Most dental treatments
- Medically necessary repatriation
Recommendation:
Private travel health insurance typically costs just a few euros per year and as a rule covers treatment by English and German-speaking private doctors as well as medically necessary repatriation.
First aid kit: What to Pack
For hikes and excursions, it is worth packing the following:
- Sun cream with SPF 50+
- Blister plasters and disinfectant
- Painkillers
- Diarrhoea tablets and electrolytes
- Motion sickness tablets for winding mountain roads
- Insect repellent for the laurel forest and fincas
- After-sun lotion
Public or Private: What and When
Public Centro de Salud: directly billable with the EHIC, Spanish-speaking, sometimes with waiting times. English and German-speaking private practice: no EHIC, private travel insurance required — but in German, short waiting times, familiar environment. For holidaymakers with private travel health insurance, the English and German-speaking private doctor is usually the more comfortable option. MediCenter La Palma in La Laguna (near Los Llanos) is the best address on the west side.
Conclusion:
112 is the most important emergency number on La Palma and connects directly to police, fire brigade, and emergency services.
The EHIC covers you at public health facilities.
For English and German-speaking care and maximum security, a private travel health insurance policy is also recommended, with which private doctors such as MediCenter La Palma or the practice of Dr. Claus Voss can be used without complication.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there English or German-speaking doctors on La Palma?
How do you find an open pharmacy at night or at weekends?
Is the EHIC enough for a doctor's visit on La Palma?
Do I need to bring medication from home?
What happens in a hiking accident on La Palma?
This article is based on the on-the-ground knowledge of the Gequo editorial team – publishers of the Reisezeit hiking guides and operators of Sunhikes.com. Last updated: May 2026
