Malawi Health Insurance

Famed for scenes that are “quintessentially Africa” - wild animals, rushing rivers, vast savannahs, jutting mountains, traditional tribal life, bustling crowded cities, magnificent vistas, and ever-smiling faces – the Republic of Malawi is what many envision when they think of Africa. A former British colony, Malawi gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1964 and is now a democratic republic that has enjoyed a relatively peaceful existence compared to its surrounding south-eastern African neighbors: Tanzania, Mozambique, and Zambia.

A very small country by African standards, Malawi has a population of about 14 million, and thus very high population density. This has not worked in its favor however, as poverty is rampant and the government does not have sufficient funds to provide adequately for the needs of its citizens. Average income is less than US$900 per year, making it one of the poorest countries in the world. The large majority live in rural areas and eke out a living via agriculture or fishing, though the tourism sector is growing slowly. Due to a poor record of controlling corruption, international investment remains very weak, adding to the economic difficulties, but recent governmental and legislative changes have been put into place which hope to encourage outside investors and foreign trade, in addition to generally increasing Malawian national revenue.

Currently Malawi relies heavily on international charity and foreign aide to provide for the most basic needs of its people and as a result, services such as education, healthcare, and social provisions are still very basic and Malawi remains definitively a developing nation.

Malawi Medical Insurance and the Healthcare System

General health indicators for Malawi are poor. According to the World Health Organization's Cooperation Strategy report of May 2011, maternal mortality is at 80.7 per 10,000 mothers, and under-five mortality is 1,120 per 10,000 children. Malnutrition affects about 41 percent of children, and the life expectancy in Malawi is only 51 years for men and 54 for women. These figures are among the worst worldwide.

Communicable disease is rampant in Malawi. Malaria still claims the largest number of victims annually of any disease in the country. Tuberculosis and respiratory infections are widespread. Parasites and cholera are commonplace. Non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and cancer are growing concerns as well, but by and large the greatest impact of any single illness is due to AIDS/HIV. About 12 percent of the population tests positive for some strain of the virus and it claims an estimated 68,000 lives in the country each year. The high rate of mortality from AIDS/HIV also has the cyclical affect of fueling malnutrition as it annually kills of about 6 percent of the agricultural workforce.

A major reason for all these appalling figures is because of gross poverty along with lack of available governmental funding for public health (average annual spending is only US$25 per person) and a large of portion of healthcare comes from international aide groups such as Doctors Without Borders and UNAIDS. The doctor to patient ratio in Malawi is one of the poorest worldwide at 2:100,000 residents. The network of public healthcare infrastructure in Malawi is extremely insufficient.

Recent efforts to restructure the available facilities have resulted in a three tiered public healthcare system that is disseminated on the local level at health centers and rural clinics which provide care for about 50 villages, or 30,000 individuals, each. No doctors are staffed at these facilities, so all care is administered by nurses or clinicians and treatment is usually limited to care for accidents, malaria, and general pediatrics. The middle level is from district hospitals which have imaging equipment, diagnostic services, surgical units, and laboratory capabilities. The top level care is available at the national hospitals which have the largest concentration of doctors and specialists and the most modern equipment, though due to distance and relative number of patients in need, these remain largely unattainable for most Malawians. Sadly, all levels of the system suffer from lack of medicines, shortage of staff, and general lack of hygiene. One diplomat who toured Bwaile Hospital in Lilongwe, the capitol city, described the conditions as “medieval” with standards that would shock almost anyone from a developed country, having broken windows and equipment, non-functioning toilets, and patients lying in hallways.

A few private clinics and hospitals are available in Malawi, primarily in urban areas, though due to cost they are not readily available to the average citizen. These outlets offer care at much more acceptable standards, though they too may experience shortages of some pharmaceuticals at times, and equipment is not always state-of-the-art. They can typically provide sufficient levels of care for most ailments, and are usually able to at least stabilize their patients to a sufficient level for them to be air-lifted to more capable facilities outside the country when the condition requires it. All care in these centers is at cost to the patient and private Malawi health insurance is strongly suggested for access to them. Additionally, foreign tourists, traveler's, and expatriates in Malawi should strongly consider their need for emergency air-ambulance or repatriation coverage in case of an emergency that cannot be dealt with domestically.

Malawi Medical Insurance Concerns

While no nationalized scheme for health insurance exists in Malawi, in recent years the government has opened the doors of all public healthcare outlets to offer free care to all Malawians in hopes of improving the health of the general populace, and has in effect become the public social medicine provider. While this is admirable, the public facilities available are not up to the task of treating the volume of persons in need, and it is putting a huge financial strain on the state's already frail healthcare budget. As a result facilities are overcrowded, care is still insufficient, and wait times are often very long.

Private medical insurance in Malawi is extremely rare, mostly due to poverty, with less than 3 percent of Malawians covered. Foreigners residing in Malawi who have the financial ability still usually choose to avail themselves of some sort of private coverage to make accessing the private healthcare system easier and more affordable.

Malawi Travel Insurance Information

Much like the country’s healthcare offerings, sanitation and safe drinking water are not universally available. As of a 2006 report, about 60 percent have access to improved water sources, and 75 percent to some form of sanitary sewer. Thus, all visitors are advised to practice fastidious personal hygiene, and only drink bottled, boiled, filtered, or chemically treated water.

All persons traveling to Malawi who have recently resided or visited a country with evidence of yellow fever will be required to show a vaccination ticket for the disease prior to entry. Currently no other required vaccines are required by the government, but as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, all travelers to Malawi should ensure that all routine preventable disease vaccines are up to date and it also suggests vaccination against hepatitis A and B, tetanus, rabies, and typhoid. Further, all visitors should consider bringing malaria medication from their home country and anyone who relies on prescription drugs should bring sufficient supply for the duration of their stay as pharmaceuticals are constantly in short supply. Over the counter medications for diarrhea and other common traveler's ailments are strongly suggested as well. Finally, all should protect themselves from mosquito bites by using insect repellant, sleeping under a net in an air-conditioned room, and wearing long sleeves and long pants when outdoors.

Climate in Malawi is perennially warm, as the county is located entirely in the southern tropics. November to April sees frequent downpours, while the rest of the year sees very little rainfall. Those wanting to explore the outback will prefer to travel to Malawi during the dryer months.

Expat Medical Insurance

For many, the more remote or untraveled the location, the more allure it holds and therefore must be experienced. Malawi certainly has much to be witnessed, but that does not mean that it is ever worth risking your health to do so. Expat Medical Insurance provides Malawi Health Insurance and International Health Insurance coverage plans that allow you to get off the beaten path yet remain secure in your knowledge that should an emergency arise you will have access to quality medical care. Our knowledgeable staff will guide you through the process of selecting a tailor made coverage package to fit your specific needs, free of charge, and afterward will always be available to answer any questions you have and provide directions with regard to accessing care providers. Contact us today for a free price quote and more details.