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Burkina Faso Expat Health Insurance

The sub-Saharan nation of Burkina Faso is home to approximately 15.8 million residents and is a land-locked country surrounded by Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Niger, and Mali. The country's name is derived from local dialects and carries the meaning of “land of the upright people”. Sadly, this has not translated into much success economically for the county, as it ranks as one of the least developed nations in the world, with a GDP per capita of less than US$1,200. The country’s government has made some questionable decisions on spending and policy-making leading to weak infrastructure and poor quality health care and education. The lack of government funding for the public has led to an illiteratcy rate of 25.3 per cent, the highest in the world. Nearly 80 per cent of the population is employed in agriculture, which accounts for over 34 per cent of their GDP. Much of the economy of Burkina Faso is funded by foreign aid, which critics say, is not getting to the majority of the country.

Burkina Faso Health System

Major factors affecting the success of proper implementation of Burkina Faso's health system include:

1. Poor funding - the government has only appropriated 6.4 per cent of its annual budget to health care over the past ten years.
2. Inconsistencies in appropriation of government and international aid funds
3. A lack of doctors and other skilled medical personnel
4. Very poor transportation network throughout much of the country

This has resulted in a generally unhealthy population. Common diseases include meningitis, measles, malaria, typhoid, cholera, diarrhea and HIV/AIDS which, according to the UNAIDS report of 2007, plagues two per cent of the population. Other severe health concerns include the high occurrence of infant and child mortality due mainly to preventable or treatable diseases. Female genital mutilation is extremely common in Burkina Faso as well, with some estimates stating as many as 70 per cent of girls and women are affected. Currently, it is still not illegal despite the numerous health risks attributed to the practice.

There are ten hospitals serving the population of Burkina Faso, both public and private. Additionally, construction projects are on-going to expand the health care available through programs sponsored by the International Hospital Foundation and various good-will investors and charitable organizations. Most health care is disseminated through a three tiered system that starts at a the local community level and provides basic care through a network of 72 medical clinics, 630 health centers, over 130 dispensaries and nearly 20 birthing centers. Groups, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and several AIDS and children's health benefit agencies, are working to expand this initial contact layer's capability so that care is closer to the people and requires less referral to secondary health care centers and hospitals. This will make health care more easily accessible, faster, and cheaper to provide. Secondary care is provided through a network of mid-level hospitals and offers basic medical procedures. For cases that can not be dealt with at the second level, referral is available to the top tier facilities. The top tier consists of the three premier hospitals, Yalgado National Hospital and Yalgado Ouedraogo Hospital both in Ouagadougou and Souro Sanou in Bobo-Dioulasso.

While there are a good number of health facilities, the population they care for is large and the general health is very poor. The doctor to patient ratio is a staggering 1:100,000, which is one tenth of the target ratio set by the WHO. The best care is regarded to be available at the Yalgado Ouedraogo National Hospital which is the most modern and has the largest amount of equipment and the most skilled staff at its disposal. Hospitals throughout the country are plagued by long waits and over worked personnel. Foreigners needing medical attention should not expect a high level of care. Private hospitals and clinics are very few in Burkina Faso due to a lack of people who can afford them.

Burkina Faso Medical Insurance

No standardized national health plan currently exists; medical insurance for most citizens is in the form of rebates and reimbursement. This is problematic for many due to lack of liquidity, however citizens will be reimbursed up to 80 per cent of their medical fees. The lack of funds up-front leads to many neglecting their health until their situation is too dire for successful treatment. Non-citizens do not qualify for the reimbursement plan and are expected to arrange personal payment prior to all treatments and medical care, either out of pocket, through private Burkina Faso health insurance providers or from International Health Insurance packages.

Traveler's Information

Temperatures vary widely in Burkina Faso depending on the time of year. The summer rainy season can produce heavy downpours throughout the country. Travelers should ensure that they carry proper documentation as police will often stop and question foreigners. Travelers are required to carry their passport with them at all times; fines can be issued for being caught without it. Medicines are often in short supply and anyone who requires regular medication should bring a sufficient supply for the duration of their stay as it may not be readily available for purchase. Sanitation levels are very low throughout Burkina Faso and water supply services, while slowly improving, are still unreliable. Many rural areas are without running water. It is recommended that all water be boiled, chemically treated, or filtered prior to drinking. The Centers for Disease Control recommends that all visitors to Burkina Faso receive vaccination for all routine disease as well as hepatitis A and B, polio, meningitis, typhoid, rabies, yellow fever, and malaria prior to departure of their home country. Additionally, with high demand on the limited resources of medical care available domestically, a comprehensive medical insurance plan is a wise choice to ensure treatment is not delayed in case of emergency.

Burkina Faso Expat Health Insurance

All travel to developing nations has some associated risk, but this risk can be reduced through international insurance plans, which not only give top quality coverage but peace of mind. Global Health Insurance offers expats in Burkina Faso Expat Health Insurance packages to fit the needs of any traveler, permanent resident or expatriate in Burkina Faso or any other location around the world. Contacting Global Health Insurance will connect you to an Insurance Expert that will assist you, free of charge, in selecting the best plan for you, your family or travel group.

It is important to make sure that in case of emergency, you have access to quality medical facilities should you choose to visit spectacular Burkina Faso, expat health insurance can provide cover for top level medical care and also pay for costs associated with emergency medical evacuations should you need it. While the public medical facilities are adequate, the private facilities, although more expensive, offer better facilities. At Global Health Insurance we specialise in helping our customers select the best expat health insurance package for their needs. We can provide medical insurance that covers a wide range of things including hospitalisation, Doctors and specialist visits, medications, pregnancy and emergency medical evacuation. Please contact us today for a free quotation.