Health Care
When people plan their vacation destination, an important consideration can be the availability of good medical care in the event of an illness or accident. Those concerned about these health issues can rest assured when considering Aruba.
Many Hotels are equipped with handicapped facilities and tourists have the possibility of renting a large assortment of health care products such as wheelchairs (both standard and electric) walkers, crutches, bed pans, concentrators, scooters etc.
Aruba is well equipped to handle virtually every medical problem. In unique cases where the island's own medical services do not cover the emergency, a patient can be quickly airlifted to nearby facilities (i.e. In Curacao).
Aruba boasts the Dr. Horacio Oduber Hospital, a medical facility equipped with reputable medical staff, 280 beds and modern equipment. The hospital, opened in 1976, is located across from Punta Brabo Beach, and is within walking distance of some of the hotel district. It functions as a general hospital with established ties to the U.S., Colombian, Venezuelan, Puerto Rican, and Dutch hospitals for specialized treatment and care.
Emergency Services
Most of the hotels in Aruba have a consulting General Practitioner. In case of emergency at the Hotel, the front desk personnel can contact the hotel physician who will direct the patient to the hospital if necessary.
In case of an emergency outside the hotel all travelers can go to the emergency room where they will be attended. The Emergency Department has an attending physician on site 24 hours a day. The medical specialists are on call. The facility is wheelchair accessible. Services such as oxygen tanks and hemodialysis are available.
Dr. Horacio Oduber Hospital
Sasakiweg, Aruba
Phone +297 527 4000
Fax +297 587 3348
Hotels have medical doctors and dentists on call. Appointments, if necessary, can be made through your hotel.
Centro Medico: Dr. Rudy Engelbrecht
Bernhardstraat 75
San Nicolas, Aruba
Phone +297 584 8833
This Medical Center is equipped with a reputable medical staff and modern equipment. Consulting hours are Monday to Friday 8:00 am to 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Emergency assistance is available 24 hours, seven days a week.
Physicians available:
- Internal Medicine
- Surgery
- Pediatrics
- Ophthalmology
- Plastic surgery
- Cardiology
- Gynecology
- Obstetrics
- Psychiatry and Otolaryngology
- Neurology and Dermatology
- Urology and Neurosurgery
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Anesthesiology/Pain Management
- Radiology
- Nephrology
All physicians are licensed and certified in Holland, the United States and a few from South America. The attending nurses have received their degrees either in Holland, US or locally. Our local in-service training is Dutch certified.
The principal operating language in the hospital is Dutch. English is widely spoken and written as is our native tongue, Papiamento. Other languages spoken are Spanish and there are several employees that speak German and French fluently.
Medical services available
- acute illness and disease prevention
- on site urgent care/traumatology
- elective and acute surgery
- hemodialysis
- on site pharmacy
- on site diagnosis service such as radiology, neurophysiology, cardiac examinations
- obstetrics
- immigration health care checks
- cardiac monitoring
- assisted ventilations
- air-ambulance services
Hemodialysis
Horacio Oduber Hospital (HOH) offers hemodialysis service to the public and also to visitors on vacation.
Dialysis during your vacation is a service that offered at the Horacio Oduber Hospital with the guarantee of receiving professional and quality medical care.
Please note hemodialysis treatment is only offered for transient patients and persons should apply two (2) months ahead of travel.
For more details on treatment and costs please click here.
Laboratory services
The Lab at Horacio Oduber Hospital
A wide range of testing is available such as blood chemistry, kidney, liver, and thyroid functions, HIV testing, hepatitis A, etc.
- Radiology
- All common diagnostic procedures
- Ultrasonography
- Angiography
- Mammograms
- CT scan
- Cardiac tests
- Endoscopy
Hospital Emergency Services Available
- The hospital facility is a minor trauma center
- The first point of contact in case of a medical emergency is the emergency room at the hospital
The emergency medical equipment and capabilities
- Cardiac monitoring and resuscitation
- Traumatology
- Burns have to refer to the burn centers in the US
Special needs facilities at resorts
Limited facilities for the physically disabled are available. Most properties have wheelchairs and canes available.
Most hotels in Aruba are equipped for wheelchair access; they have elevators and ground floor rooms.