Healthcare in Port Harcourt for families abroad: hospitals, emergency numbers, care
Port Harcourt has two teaching hospitals, UPTH (782 beds) and the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, and a private tier led by Meridian, Pamo and Good Heart. The emergency number is 112 with Rivers ambulance lines alongside it, no hospital in the city publishes its fees, and residential elderly care is thin, so home care is the usual arrangement.
By Kinship · Updated 19 September 2026 · 5 min read · Information, not advice.
Public hospitals
- University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), East-West Road, Alakahia: federal, 782 beds, about 200,000 patients a year. 24-hour lines +234 701 020 7377 and +234 818 269 2056.
- Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Old GRA (formerly Braithwaite Memorial): state-owned, founded 1925, 375 beds. Main line +234 815 149 1555; emergency +234 807 159 2631.
- Kelsey Harrison Hospital, Diobu: state-owned, 150 beds, with accident and emergency, maternity and neonatal units.
Private hospitals
- Meridian Hospitals, D-Line (branch on Ikwerre Road): founded 1996, 24 hours; emergency +234 705 245 9425 or +234 808 282 6030.
- Pamo Clinics and Hospital, Aba Road; Good Heart Specialist Hospital, New GRA (cardiology-led, with an emergency department); Atinu Critical Care, Hopeville, Kariden, Shield, Save A Life, Acron, Cova Care and St Catherine's.
- No Port Harcourt hospital publishes its consultation fee. Comparable private hospitals in Lagos charged N20,000 to N25,000 plus registration in December 2025; FCT district hospitals charged N2,000 to N4,700 in May 2025. Ask for the price list before the first visit.
Emergency numbers
- 112, plus the Rivers State ambulance lines on the Federal Ministry of Health's August 2026 list: 09040222281, 09040222283, 09040222285.
- Rivers State emergency control room: 08032003514, 08073777717.
- Private ambulances: Emergency Response Africa (toll-free 08000-2255-372), PH Metro Ambulance, International SOS. Typical private ambulance cost N30,000 to N150,000 by distance and equipment (May 2025).
HMO networks and care
- Reliance HMO lists over 100 facilities in Port Harcourt including Meridian, Pamo, St Catherine's and Acron. The national HMOs (AXA Mansard, Hygeia, Leadway) quote networks of 700 to over 2,000 facilities; check the named hospital is in the network before buying.
- Home care: Mikul Health and Wellcare Home Medicals operate in the city; Paradigm Home Care Nursing Services in Ozuoba offers home nursing for older people. None publishes prices; the Lagos benchmark is a caregiver at N119,000 to N159,000 a month and a nurse at N219,000 to N259,000 (May 2026).
- Residential: JevCare Home, a registered charity on the East-West Road at Rumuodara (+234 912 231 4014), provides residential care for older people. The state government has announced plans for a state elderly home.
- Kinship Visits are in Lagos today. Kinship Well applies at network hospitals across Nigeria.
Questions people ask
Is Port Harcourt safe to travel to for a family visit?
The UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to the riverine areas of Rivers State and all but essential travel to the rest. Check the current advice before booking, and know that it can affect travel insurance.
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Sources
- UPTH contact
- University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital
- Rivers State University Teaching Hospital
- Kelsey Harrison Hospital
- Meridian Hospitals contact
- Hospitals in Port Harcourt (list)
- NEMSAS emergency numbers by state, August 2026 (Daily Asset)
- Ambulance services in Port Harcourt (Emergency Response Africa, May 2025)
- Reliance HMO hospitals in Port Harcourt
- JevCare Home
- Caregiver and nurse rates, Lagos 2026 (Rockgarden)
- FCDO travel advice, Nigeria
Prices in naira are quoted with their date because they move. Nothing on this page recommends a named provider.
This page is information, not advice. Kinship wrote it from the sources listed above and checked it on the date shown. It is not medical, legal, financial or insurance advice, and it does not take account of any one person's circumstances. Decisions about treatment belong with the person and their doctor; decisions about money, insurance or immigration with the person and a qualified adviser. Our platform terms apply.