Uganda Health Insurance

The Republic of Uganda is located in East Africa and the official languages are Swahili and English, with several other local dialects also spoken across the country. Historically, most of the south of the country, including the capital city of Kampala, comprises the former Buganda kingdom. Uganda is one of the world’s poorest countries, but economic reform has led to GDP growth of 7-8 percent in the past few years. However, economic gains have not been uniform, and income inequality has expanded with overall growth. Uganda is a landlocked country and relies on Kenya for access to the Indian Ocean.

Uganda’s proportion of GDP dedicated to health expenditure is similar to that of many advanced economies at 8.2 percent. Unfortunately, because of its poverty, this was a trifling sum of USD 115 annually per capita in 2009. Uganda’s national health statistics reflect this poverty and life expectancy is among the lowest in the world: 48 years for men and 57 years for women. Most financing for health care in Uganda comes from the state or from overseas aid. Private sector health care spending is largely limited to out of pocket expenditure, and there is virtually no Uganda health insurance provided locally.

Uganda Health Insurance & Health Care Indices

Communicable and infectious disease is rampant in Uganda. In contrast to most developed countries, the majority of years of life lost in Uganda are due to communicable, rather than non-communicable, diseases. Like most countries in sub-Saharan Africa, HIV / AIDS is a major health problem. Health problems in Uganda start before birth, where the standard of prenatal care is very low. Maternal mortality figures are alarming at 880 fatalities per 100,000 live births, although this is slightly lower than the very high African average. Children in Uganda suffer disproportionately from preventable diseases including diarrhea, malaria and pneumonia. For adults, HIV and AIDS related illnesses account for the largest proportion of mortality, followed by malaria and respiratory infections including tuberculosis. Many of these cases are preventable, and are exacerbated by poor nutrition and weak public health infrastructure, including limited access to clean drinking water and sanitation.

Uganda has only 1.2 doctors and 13.1 nurses and midwives per 10,000 residents, which is low even by African standards. Most health care centers are concentrated in urban areas surrounding Kampala; access to care in remote parts of the country is extremely limited and overall health care access is marked by serious inequality. A WHO analysis of Uganda’s health care system points to serious weaknesses in human resources and capacity building, particularly in “decentralized” parts of the country. It suggests improvements in training health care professionals and improving health care resource supply chains. A further stated aim is to improve the effectiveness of overseas aid which comes from various sources, and is currently distributed in an inefficient manner. Less than 0.1 percent of total health care expenditure comes from prepaid Uganda health insurance spending, so improvements in the health care system will have to come from cooperation with the Uganda Ministry of Health and the various providers of overseas aid. Uganda removed user fees for medical care in 2001, thanks to the support of various aid organizations, which has improved overall health and reduced the spread of HIV.

Uganda Health Insurance for Tourists and Business Travelers

Although Uganda lies on the equator, its climate varies dramatically due to variations in altitude and lake effects, including cooling winds from Lake Victoria, where the capital city of Kampala lies. The varied terrain makes it a popular tourist destination although infrastructure is not as well developed as in other east African countries. Still, Uganda boasts several national parks and game reserves, including the famous Mgahinga Gorilla National Park near Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Business travellers and expatriates generally work in the oil and natural gas sectors, although an increasing number are involved with charitable non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Travelling to equatorial sub-Saharan countries carries inherent risk. The climate can cause sunstroke and related illnesses in travelers from cooler climates. Various insect borne diseases such as malaria and dengue are common. HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases are rampant. Food borne pathogens are common, as refrigerated storage supply chains are weak. In addition, the poor quality of the local health care system means that treatment can be limited or risky itself.

Although the UN Millennium Development Goals have made some progress in improving the delivery of healthcare in Uganda, quality of treatment remains very low, especially outside of Kampala. Shortages of medication, clean water and even power supplies are common. The WHO maintains a research centre on injury prevention and control at Makerere University in Kampala, but overall the level of medical research and education is limited, with specialists generally requiring education overseas. Any serious medical problem in Uganda will require treatment abroad – which generally means transport to South Africa. Given the high cost of treatment overseas and lack of local Uganda health insurance, an international health insurance plan is suggested for tourists, business travelers and expatriates.

Uganda Health Insurance and International Health Care

With a wide range of international health insurance plans on the market, choosing the best one for your needs can be daunting. Having a trusted advisor like Expat Medical Insurance will help you make the best decision for you and your family. Travelling or relocating abroad is fraught with challenges. Concerns about your health insurance, particularly in an emergency situation, should not interfere with your plans in Uganda. The experienced team at Expat Medical Insurance is available around the clock with information about plans for individuals, families, companies and tour groups, and many of our plans include a medical evacuation rider. Contact Expat Medical Insurance today for more information.