• Individual plans
• Family plans
• Group plans
• Travel plans
• Teacher plans

Burundi Health Insurance

The Republic of Burundi, commonly referred to as Burundi, is a landlocked country in central Africa which shares borders with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania and Rwanda. Its southern border is adjacent to Lake Tanganyika. Burundi is a small country with a total landmass of 27,834 square kilometers and an approximate population of 9 million people. Burundi is ranked among the top five poorest countries in the world and has the world’s lowest GDP per capita, with an economy that is heavily reliant on agriculture and the export of coffee and sugar. Burundi was a Belgian colony until independence was declared in 1962. Centuries of ethnic tensions between the Hutu and Tutsi tribes boiled over into post independence civil conflict from which Burundi has struggled to recover. From independence until 2003 an estimated 550,000 people died in the conflict. Democratic Presidential elections in 2005 have sought to establish peace and stability between the two groups and although the security situation remains volatile, there is renewed hope that the country and its people can begin to prosper and develop in peace.

Burundi Healthcare and Insurance

Decades of civil conflict have severely impacted the government’s ability to provide adequate social services with health care particularly affected. During the conflict, an estimated 630,000 people fled their homes with most settling in rural areas without proper sanitation and health facilities. Post conflict, the government has struggled to provide sufficient funds required to successfully develop the health care sector. Medical facilities throughout the country are poor and lack modern equipment. There is a continued shortage of adequately trained medical personnel and stocks of medicines and drugs are in short supply. As an expatriate or visitor to Burundi, it is imperative that you purchase Burundi health insurance prior to your arrival in the country.

The health care system is provided by the government through the Ministry of Health which has split delivery of health care into four levels; namely facility, district, provincial and national. Primary health care centers at facility level are the first point of contact for patients seeking treatment and generally these facilities are staffed by a small team of nurses and community workers capable of administering vaccinations, immunizations and treatment of simple cases involving malaria and tuberculosis. State funding of health facilities is low with approximately 3 percent of Burundi’s annual GDP allocated to health care. The majority of the annual health care spend is met by contributions from non-governmental organizations (NGOs), international donors and out of pocket payments at the time of treatment. This lack of finance has affected the development of health facilities and as a result public facilities tend to suffer from overcrowding and long waiting times.

The country’s main public medical facility is the Prince Regent Charles hospital in the capital city Bujumbura. A limited number of private clinics and hospitals also operate, mostly in Bujumbura, however the standard of facilities are only slightly better and more expensive than their counterparts in the public system. Expatriates relocating to and short term visitors to Burundi should be aware that there is no national Burundi medical insurance system in place and that reliable information on private health insurance is difficult to find. For peace of mind, purchasing international health insurance for Burundi is advised.

A number of health indicators accurately portray the chronic problems affecting the health care system in Burundi. Life expectancy is low at just 57 years for males and 60 years for females. The infant mortality rate is 62 deaths per every 1,000 live births. A shortage of food and malnutrition affect over two thirds and over half of children under the age of five suffer from stunted growth. Poverty is widespread and approximately 90 percent of the population lives below the internationally recognized poverty line. The HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in 2009 was 3.3 percent which ranked Burundi in the top 20 worst affected countries in the world. Outbreaks of dysentery, cholera and typhoid occur regularly as a result of poor sanitation and restricted access to clean and safe drinking water.

Burundi Travel Insurance Concerns

Burundi’s location just south of the equator and varying altitudes have meant that various diseases associated with the tropics do not affect the whole country but rather the low lying densely populated areas close to Bujumbura, Lake Tanganyika and the wildlife plains. Diseases prevalent to these areas include Malaria, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Typhoid, Polio, Yellow Fever and Rabies. Vaccinations for each of these diseases and seeking general medical advice are advised at least four weeks prior to your arrival in Burundi. It should be noted that Malaria is one of the country’s leading causes of premature death and precautions that must be taken include the use of anti-malarial drugs and insect repellant to help prevent insect bites. The Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is required by all travelers at port of entry. Medical stocks and supplies regularly expire therefore sufficient quantities of prescription medicine should be purchased in your home country and clearly labeled. In the event that medical complications arise while you are in Burundi, emergency evacuation to a country with modern medical facilities will be required. Expatriates and travelers should be in possession of a Burundi health insurance plan that contains a provision for emergency medical evacuation.

General elections were held in 2010 that for the most part passed off peacefully although there were some isolated incidents of violence. All rebel groups have now disarmed and disbanded and sporadic outbreaks of armed violence can occur. Political rallies, demonstrations and public gatherings should be avoided at all times. Street crime such as muggings and carjacking pose the highest risk for the expatriate and tourist. Corruption is endemic and affects all aspects of public life. As such, the rule of law is generally not respected. Emergency services are non-existent and should not be relied upon in case of an accident, crime or medical emergency.

Burundi Expat Health Insurance

Medical facilities are poor and extremely limited in the care and treatments they can offer throughout Burundi. Expat health insurance can cover you in the even that an emergency occurs or complicated treatment is required and medical evacuation to a country with modern facilities be comes necessary. To maintain peace of mind for you and your family, invest in an international health insurance plan. Global Health Insurance can offer you health policies that can be tailored to include such benefits as in-patient, out-patient, maternity, dental, consultation and more. For more information on Burundi expat health insurance or to receive a free quotation, please contact one of our advisers today.