Practical

Health in Paris

Hospitals, chemists, emergency numbers: health-related information.

Coronavirus: hygiene measures and recommended precautions

To avoid spreading the Covid-19 virus, it is recommended that a few basic, easy-to-apply protective measures be followed:

  • maintain a social distance (avoid greeting people with a kiss or shaking hands);

  • wash your hands frequently with soap or disinfect them with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer;

  • cough or sneeze into a paper handkerchief and throw it away after use (then wash or disinfect your hands afterwards) or into the crook of your elbow if you don’t have a tissue.

More information on the website of the Agence Nationale de Santé Publique, on the website of the Ministère de la Santé, of the government or WHO.

EMERGENCY NUMBERS

If you have had an accident and your state of health requires that you seek immediate treatment, here are the emergency numbers to ring:

Emergency European number 

112

Fire Brigade

18

Police emergency services

17

SAMU (ambulance emergency service)

15

SMS or fax emergency number (for people with hearing and speaking difficulties)

114

SOS Médecins (doctor, house calls)

36 24 or 01 47 07 77 77

SOS Dentaire (dentist)

01 43 37 51 00 or 01 43 36 36 00

Drogues Info Service (7 jours/7, 8h-2h)

0 800 23 13 13

Sida Info Service (Aids)

0 800 840 800

Centre antipoison de Paris

01 40 05 48 48

Centre de dépistage IST de l’Institut Alfred Fournier

01 40 78 26 00 or 01 40 78 26 71

Centre de traitement des brûlés « adultes » (Hôpital Saint-Louis)

01 42 38 51 61

See the by arrondissement.

HEALTH INFORMATION

There are no vaccination requirements for travelling to France.

Regarding the entry of pets into France, it is obligatory to declare and present them to the customs authorities for documentary control and identity. European regulations also necessitate an anti-rabies vaccination and identification of the animal by means of an electronic chip. See the website of the Ministry of the Economy and Finance for full information.

As a general rule, check the conditions and formalities of entry for your pet with the French Embassy in your country of residence.

HOSPITALS IN PARIS

The 39 hospitals of the Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris, located in various parts of Paris and the Île-de-France, provide a service for all the public, 24 hours/24 and 7 days/7. They account for 25 general emergency departments.

Each hospital also has its own specialist consultations. A doctor will direct you to the one that is most appropriate to your needs. During the hospitalization of a child or loved one, some hospitals may also offer you accommodation or give you information about a specialist agency.

Some of the major Parisian hospitals are: La Pitié Salpêtrière, the Hôtel-Dieu, Lariboisière, Necker and Bichat.

For urgent consultations in English

Many practitioners at the American Hospital, the Institut Franco-Britannique and the Hôpital Foch are perfectly bilingual. It is also possible to contact SOS Médecins France on +33 (0) 1 47 07 77 77: operators will direct you, when possible, to an English-speaking doctor.

The bakup app connects tourists with local health professionnals when the need to consult in their own language.

CHEMISTS IN PARIS

Chemists are usually open all day from 8am to 8pm. They close on a rota basis on Sunday and sometimes on Monday. But when one chemist is closed, the addresses of the nearest open chemists are listed on the door.

Plus, many chemists in Paris stay open late or even all night.