Medical stay in Douala or Yaoundé: where to stay near the hospital
Updated on 23 October 2026 · 6 min read
Many people come to Douala and Yaoundé for care: patients from other regions and neighbouring countries, and families of the diaspora who bring a parent for treatment. A stay for care often lasts weeks, and the person accompanying the patient needs somewhere calm to stay, close to the hospital. This guide covers the practical side: accommodation, transport, documents and money. It does not give medical advice.
A place to stay close to the hospital
For a stay of several weeks, a furnished apartment by the week or the month is usually more comfortable and cheaper than a hotel. You can cook, rest, receive the family, and keep the patient's things in one place. Tell us the name of the hospital or clinic and we will suggest the closest apartment we have checked.
- Ask about access: floor and lift, steps at the entrance, bathroom layout, if the patient has difficulty walking.
- Ask about power and water: some apartments have backup power and a water tank, shown on each apartment page.
- Quiet and rest: a calm street matters more than a lively neighbourhood during treatment.
The main public hospitals
For orientation only: in Douala, the Hôpital Général de Douala, the Hôpital Laquintinie and the Hôpital Gynéco-Obstétrique et Pédiatrique; in Yaoundé, the Hôpital Général, the Hôpital Central, the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU), the Hôpital Gynéco-Obstétrique et Pédiatrique and the emergency centre (Centre des Urgences). Both cities also have many private clinics. The choice of hospital and doctor is a medical decision for the patient and the family; we take care of the stay around it.
Getting to appointments
Appointments, tests and hospital visits mean several trips a day. A car with driver by the day waits at the hospital and takes the patient and the family back to the apartment. For the arrival, tell the airline in advance if the patient needs a wheelchair or assistance at the airport; our driver then meets you at arrivals.
What to prepare
- Medical records: reports, test results, prescriptions and the list of current medicines, ideally on paper and on your phone.
- Medicines in their original boxes, with the prescription, for the whole stay.
- Money available quickly: many hospitals and clinics ask for payment before tests or treatment. Plan cash and Mobile Money; family abroad can send money to a Mobile Money account in minutes (see money in Cameroon).
- Insurance: check with the patient's insurer what is covered in Cameroon and how claims work.
- Visa and yellow fever certificate if the patient or the companion comes from abroad: see preparing your trip.
In an emergency
Go straight to the nearest hospital emergency department. Our team can help with transport and with the family's stay, but cannot give medical advice.
Frequently asked questions
Can I rent a furnished apartment near a hospital in Douala or Yaoundé?
Yes. Tell us the hospital or clinic and the dates; we suggest the closest apartment we have checked, by the week or the month.
Can I book a driver to take a patient to hospital appointments?
Yes, a car with driver by the day waits at the hospital and brings the patient and the family back.
Do hospitals in Cameroon ask for payment before treatment?
Many hospitals and clinics ask for payment before tests or treatment. Plan cash and Mobile Money, and check with the patient's insurer.
Do you give medical advice?
No. We take care of accommodation, transport and the family's stay. Medical choices are made by the patient, the family and the doctors.