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Brunei Expat Health Insurance

Brunei, officially known as the State of Brunei Darussalam, is located on the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia. Spanning a land area of 5,765 square kilometers which consists of two unconnected pieces of land, Brunei shares borders with Indonesia and the Malaysian State of Sarawak; the country has a population of approximately 400,000 people. Brunei enjoys a tropical equatorial climate with high temperatures and abundant rainfall throughout the year. The majority of Brunei’s territory is low lying coastal plains, with hills to the west and mountains to the east. Large areas of Brunei’s interior are unspoiled natural rainforest and the country is often referred to as ‘The Green Heart of Borneo’.

Brunei is a former British protectorate which achieved independence in 1984. Shortly before independence and in the immediate aftermath, Brunei began developing its oil and gas reserves resulting in impressive economic growth. Brunei is now classified as the second most developed country in Southeast Asia according to the United Nations Human Development Index. The export of oil and natural gas account for half of GDP and conscious that its economy was over exposed to fluctuating international oil and gas prices, the Bruneian government has begun to implement policies aimed at diversifying its economy with agriculture, fishing, forestry and banking services now playing a larger role in the domestic economy.

Brunei Healthcare System

Brunei’s developed economy, and considerable national wealth, has created conditions in which its citizens enjoy subsidized housing and food and free access to health care. The Ministry of Health delivers health care to the citizens of Brunei on behalf of the national government and it is responsible for maintaining all aspects of the system which range from policy making, financing, planning and administration to services at hospitals, renal and dental facilities, pharmacies, laboratories and nursing services. The standard of health care in Brunei is widely recognized as being among the best in the Southeast Asia region and while public health services are free of charge to citizens, expatriates resident in Brunei are required to pay in cash for any treatment received. As such, expatriates are advised to purchase international medical insurance prior to their arrival in Brunei.

The majority of Brunei’s health care facilities are operated by the public sector and the largest public hospital is the Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Hospital, more commonly known as the RIPAS hospital, which is located in the capital city Bandar Seri Begawan. The oldest hospital in Brunei is the Suri Seri Begawan Hospital in Kuala Belait which is also state run, and was originally opened in 1972. It was redeveloped and modernized in 2000 and is now the second largest hospital in the country, complete with a blood bank and laboratory and is now capable of providing some specialized services. Other public health facilities include two smaller hospitals, 14 maternal and child health clinics, 16 health centers, eight traveling health clinics and four flying medical service teams. The standard of medical care and facilities decreases in rural areas and some medical centers have been known to run low on stocks of essential medicines and drugs. The flying medical services division attends to patients in remote areas who require transportation by air to hospital. Expatriates should consider purchasing medical insurance for Brunei which contains a provision for emergency air evacuation from remote and rural areas if necessary.

There are two private hospitals in Brunei although just one hospital, the Jerudong Park Medical Centre/Gleneagles JPMC Cardiac Centre (JPMC), is open to members of the public. With its state of the art equipment and facilities, the JPMC is capable of providing a higher standard of health care than its counterparts in the public sector. Citizens of Brunei are entitled to access health care services at this private facility as part of their national health coverage. Expatriates wishing to use the JPMC should be aware that treatment costs will be more expensive than those at one of the public hospitals; therefore, they should consult with their insurance provider to confirm they are entitled to use the facility. The other private hospital is exclusively operated for employees of Brunei Shell Petroleum and their dependants.

Expatriates and other short term travelers and visitors to Brunei should be aware that while the country is modern and well developed, its location in the tropics means there is an ongoing risk of contracting diseases and viruses prevalent to the region. Seeking medical advice four to six weeks prior to arrival in Brunei is advised. The routine vaccination should be updated accordingly and vaccinations against Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Typhoid, Japanese encephalitis and Rabies should be considered. Bacterial diarrhea is the most common ailment among expatriates and visitors to Brunei, prescription drugs and medicines to combat this illness are available for purchase at all pharmacies throughout the country. Malaria is virtually non-existent although sporadic cases of Dengue fever do manifest throughout the year. Precautions against mosquito and insect bites can reduce the risk of infection. Mains tap water is not considered safe for consumption and bottled water should be used at all times.

Brunei is generally a safe and stable country for expatriates to live in and visit. Overall crime rates are low and there is only the occasional incidence of petty theft against expatriates and tourists. Brunei is an Islamic country and non-nationals are expected to respect local law, culture and traditions. The legal system in Brunei is partly based on Sharia Law which on occasion can apply to expatriates and tourists. Some offences are punishable by whipping while convictions for drugs offences can be quite severe which can include the death penalty.

Brunei Expat Health Insurance

Brunei’s medical facilities are comparable to international standards; however, a potential lack of medicines could mean that an emergency evacuation to Singapore may be necessary. Expatriates and their families are strongly advised to purchase medical insurance in Brunei or expat health insurance that contains a provision for international medical evacuation. For more information on Brunei expat health insurance or to receive a free international medical insurance quote, please contact a Global Health Insurance adviser today.

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