Guinea-Bissau Health Insurance

The Republic of Guinea-Bissau is located on the west coast of Africa, bordering Senegal and the Republic of Guinea. It is one of Africa’s smallest countries with a land area of just 36,125 square kilometers. Its population is approximately 1.7 million people, a majority of which live in or near the capital city, Bissau. A part of the Portuguese empire since the 16th century, Guinea-Bissau achieved independence in 1974. Portuguese has remained as the country’s official language although fewer than 15 percent of citizens speak it. Kriol, a Portuguese-creole language, is spoken by roughly 40 percent of the population. Post independence, Guinea-Bissau has witnessed decades of political instability and numerous coups and attempted coups. An army uprising in 1998 quickly developed into a yearlong civil war and as recent as August 2010, members of the military placed Prime Minister Carlos Gomes under house arrest. Unsurprisingly, Guinea-Bissau has a poorly developed economy and the country ranks among the lowest countries on the United Nation’s Human Development Index. Agriculture is the main sector within the economy and the production and sale of ground and cashew nuts account for the majority of its exports. It is thought that two thirds of the population lives in poverty.

Guinea-Bissau Health Care and Insurance

Since independence, Guinea-Bissau has struggled to provide adequate public services for its citizens and much of the country’s infrastructure has been damaged by conflict. Health facilities have generally been described as basic and limited and they are primarily located in or near the capital city of Bissau; facilities in rural areas tend to be extremely small and of low quality, or are non-existent. Health services are provided by the government at public facilities while a small private for-profit health sector delivers private health care services at a number of clinics. International charities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) work closely with the government and the Ministry of Health to help provide primary health care and basic treatments and immunizations. Few national health or private health insurance options are available to citizens in Guinea-Bissau and as such, tourists and expatriates are advised to purchase an international Guinea-Bissau health insurance policy prior to arrival in the country.

Health facilities at local, regional and central levels form Guinea-Bissau’s public health services. Health units and centers operate at local level and these facilities are usually staffed by a small team of nurses, midwives and volunteer community health workers. They are capable of providing basic emergency care, consultations, treatments and some minor surgeries. Regional hospitals, of which there are five, provide secondary health services and a limited range of specialist treatments. The central level is essentially the Ministry of Health which has overall responsibility for the provision of health care in the country. The Ministry and international NGOs work closely to deliver health care services. An estimated 28 private health care clinics operate in the city of Bissau and provide similar services to those available at public health facilities.

Health services in Guinea-Bissau suffer from a number of issues but the area that requires most urgent attention is the chronic lack of trained health personnel. The doctor patient ratio is estimated to be just five doctors for every 100,000 patients, an alarming statistic which highlights the seriousness of the problem. Roughly 60 percent of all births do not have a skilled health worker present and a lack of post natal services contributes to many infants contracting illnesses and diseases during their first year of life, leading to extremely high infant mortality rates in the country.

Poor economic performance has meant that the government allocates roughly 6 percent of GDP or US$35 per person towards health care. This figure is far below the regional average and falls considerably short of the funding required to provide a manageable level of health care. Expatriates and short term visitors should note that health services are considerably below international standards. Specialist or complicated treatments would require emergency air evacuation to a country with state of the art facilities. Purchasing a comprehensive international health insurance policy is therefore strongly recommended.

Guinea-Bissau Travel Insurance Concerns

Guinea-Bissau is situated in close proximity to the equator and it enjoys warm and humid weather conditions throughout the year. It also experiences a wet season, typically from June to October. Poor sanitation levels and inadequate health care have resulted in a number of tropical diseases being prevalent in the country. Expatriates and travelers are advised to seek advice from a travel health specialist at least four weeks prior to arrival. Vaccinations for diseases such as Typhoid, Polio, Hepatitis A and B, Yellow Fever, Rabies and Meningitis are recommended. Diseases spread through the bite of insects such as Malaria, Dengue fever and Filariasis are widespread and precautions against insect bites should be adopted. There is an increased risk of catching diseases during the months of the wet season, in particular bacterial diseases such as Cholera and there are regular and sustained outbreaks of this disease each year. Strict guidelines regarding cleanliness and water and food consumption should be adhered to.

One unfortunate issue to remain after decades of internal military fighting and civil conflict are the many thousands of landmines and other unexploded ordnance found in large swathes of Guinea-Bissau. Demining efforts are ongoing and the capital city Bissau was recently declared mine free. The Tombali, Biombo and Bafata regions are most affected and expatriates and travelers visiting these areas or any rural areas outside of Bissau should use local guides and remain on well traveled and signposted routes. Guinea-Bissau’s border with Senegal and the Cassamance region in particular has witnessed prolonged and heavy fighting between rebel groups and the Senegalese government. This conflict has at times spilled over into Guinea-Bissau and the border is often closed for periods of time. Travel to the Cassamance region is not advised at the time of writing.

Guinea-Bissau Expat Health Insurance

Guinea-Bissau is a country in a political and economic crisis. It is unable to deliver and maintain adequate public services, including health care. Travelers and expatriates should note that should they require emergency or specialist treatment, they will require air evacuation to a country with state of the art health facilities. Expat Medical Insurance can assist you choose the product or policy best suited to your individual needs. For more information on Guinea-Bissau health insurance, global health insurance or to receive a free quote, please contact one of our advisors today.