Nepal Health Insurance

The Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, also known simply as Nepal, is located in the Himalayas in South Asia, landlocked by India and China. The population of Nepal is approximately 29.4 million and the country covers a total land area of 147,181square kilometers. The world’s highest point, Mount Everest, with its peak at 8,848 meters above sea level, can be found in Nepal, which also boasts eight of the world’s top ten tallest mountains.

Nepal can be split into three distinct physiographic areas; mountain, hill and flat lands, and with this five different climatic zones, ranging from tropical to arctic. Travelers should ensure that they have the appropriate clothing and equipment for the zone they will be visiting. Nepali is the official language; however, the culture is so diverse that over 10 languages are widely spoken. Around half of the population is illiterate, and almost a quarter lives below the international poverty line, making it one of the poorest countries in the world. The currency is the Nepali rupee which is pegged to the Indian rupee; however other currencies such as the US Dollar, Euro and the Pound Sterling are also widely accepted.

Tourism is the biggest contributor to the country’s GDP. Nepal is a popular destination for those seeking adventure and viewing wildlife; trekking, mountain climbing and rock climbing draw thousands of tourists each year. The trek from Lukla to Everest Base Camp is one of the most popular. The main religion in Nepal is Hinduism, and the world’s largest Shiva temple, Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, attracts both tourists and pilgrims. Lumbini, the birth place of the Buddha is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with a number of holy sites and ruins of ancient monasteries. The capital, Kathmandu is also a popular draw card for tourists; it’s the only city in the country and offers tourists a wealth of culture and heritage. There are risks when traveling in Nepal however, which warrant the purchase of comprehensive expat health insurance prior to arrival.

Nepal Health Care and Insurance

Public healthcare in the country is administered by Nepal’s Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), covering 4,396 health institutions, ranging from hospitals to local health posts. A total of 6,944 hospital beds are available. Private facilities are also available, primarily in Kathmandu; however these services are extremely expensive and still not comparable to western standards.

The overall service of the public and private sectors is limited and outside Kathmandu Valley and Pokhara, treatment for medical conditions is extremely poor if it can be found at all.

Healthcare is beyond the reach for many Nepalese. Since 2006 the Nepalese government has worked to provide free healthcare for all citizens with the help of monetary aid, however many Nepalese still do not have access to this facility as there is a shortage of doctors and hospitals. Around 40 percent of the population in mountainous rural areas are required to travel for more than 30 minutes to reach a healthcare provider. There are only 2 physicians per 10,000 inhabitants in Nepal; the regional average is 5 physicians.

The sanitation and water supply is poor, particularly in rural areas where 82 percent of the population lives. Around 60 percent of deaths in Nepal are due to communicable diseases, many of which could be prevented. Maternal care is an issue with 380 maternal deaths per 10,000 live births; only 5 percent of the births of the poorest 20 percent of the population have a health care professional present, compared to 58 percent of the richest 20 percent.

Reflective of these issues is the estimated life expectancy at birth of 64 years for men and 67 years for women. There are approximately 64,000 people living with HIV/AIDS, around 0.4 percent of population, and there is no mental health care provision within the country. If a medical emergency should arise while travelling in Nepal, visitors will need to be air evacuated to Bangkok, New Delhi or Singapore to receive treatment. This should be taken into consideration when planning a trip to the country, and comprehensive Nepal medical insurance which includes air evacuation should be purchased prior to departure for the country. Travelers should also be aware that they may need to pay for all medical expenses up front often in cash.

Nepal Health Insurance Concerns

Visitors and expatriates travelling to Nepal are highly encouraged to visit a health care professional 4-6 weeks in advance of departure. As well as routine vaccinations, it is also recommended that travelers to Nepal receive several inoculations to aid in the prevention of acquiring infectious diseases.

The following vaccines are recommended by medical travel advisories for travelers to Nepal; Hepatitis A and B, Typhoid, Polio, Japanese Encephalitis and Rabies. Several people have died following contraction of dengue fever, and malaria is present in low lying areas, so visitors should take precautions to avoid mosquito bites.

Cholera has also been detected in Kathmandu and during the monsoon months (June- September) outbreaks are common. All travelers to Nepal should immediately visit a healthcare facility if they experience diarrhea, and also if they are bitten or scratched by any animal, as rabies is a danger in Nepal. Only bottled water should be drunk, tap water and ice should be avoided, and food cooked thoroughly to minimize the risk of any food or water borne infections.

The majority of visitors make the trip to Nepal to trek the Himalayas, and trekkers should ensure that they have comprehensive travel insurance that includes mountain rescue. They should also register their planned route at the entrance to the conservation areas. It is also important that trekkers are aware of the symptoms of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) and they give themselves plenty of time to acclimatize, ascending slowly to allow the body time to adjust to the country’s high altitude. Throughout the winter internal flights across Nepal are cancelled or delayed due to weather conditions, so individuals trekking in the months from November to January should be prepared to make alternative travel arrangements or have enough supplies to wait any delays out.

Nepal is considered a high risk area for earthquakes as it lies in a seismically active region. Nepal does not have the infrastructure to deal with earthquakes so any visitors to the country should ensure that their tour operator has a contingency plan for such occurrences.

There are many risks associated with travel to Nepal, and all visitors should ensure that they research the country prior to travel so they are aware of all the risks and can plan accordingly.

Nepal Expat Health Insurance

For treks to Nepal and visits to remote areas, it’s important that travelers purchase comprehensive international medical insurance prior to travel which includes coverage for mountain rescue and recovery. In the case of a medical emergency whilst on a trek, rescue by helicopter is the only option and from remote areas can cost up to US$ 10,000. Visitors will also find that only basic healthcare is available, and in rural areas there are often no healthcare facilities at all. If a medical emergency occurs then emergency evacuation to Singapore, New Delhi or Bangkok will be necessary. Emergency medical evacuations can be extremely expensive and travel advisories recommend that those visiting Nepal take out comprehensive Nepal Health insurance to cover such occurrences. Expat Medical Insurance can provide a free quotation to cover all your travel and medical needs, including emergency medical evacuation, doctor’s fees and specialist consultations. Call one of our experienced advisors today for a free consultation.