Mauritius Expat Health Insurance
Mauritius, officially known as the Republic of Mauritius, is a nation consisting of four islands located in the Indian Ocean approximately 900 kilometres east of Madagascar. The nation’s territory includes the main island of Mauritius, and three other islands chains, Rodrigues, located 560 kilometres northeast, the islands of Agalega, located 1,100 kilometres north and the shoals of Cargados Carajos, 300 km northeast. The country has approximately 1.3 million people, many of whom live around the capital city of Port Louis.
The island nation is a parliamentary republic, having gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1968. The official language in Mauritius is English however the main languages spoken and used in newspapers and on television are Mauritian Creole and French. The country is divided into nine districts.
Mauritius has an upper middle income economy and one of Africa’s highest per capita incomes. Its economy is based on agriculture but has been continuing to expand into textile, finance and tourism. Sugar cane plantations account for 25% of all exports. France and the United Kingdom are the country’s biggest trading partners. Unfortunately, economic growth has slowed recently due to declining sugar prices and textile and apparel production.
The blue seas, white sandy beaches, luxury hotels and water sports are a big draw by tourists to Mauritius. The island is surrounded by a coral reef which allows for a number of water activities including deep sea fishing, surfing, wind surfing, water skiing and yachting. The country also boosts a number of land based activities include golf, tennis, hunting, quad bike riding, abseiling, horse trekking and sky diving.
The people of Mauritius are warm and welcoming of tourists. The food in Mauritius is a treat for visitors as it is a mixture of Indian, African, Chinese and European. Rum is also produced on the island, as it is made from sugar cane, and goes well with cola and ice. The country was the only known home of the dodo bird, an extinct flightless bird that was easy prey for settlers.
Mauritius is paradise on Earth and has a tropical climate. The summer is hot, wet and humid from November through to May and the winter is warm and dry from May through to November. Cyclones affect the country from November to April. The country is home to forests in mountainous areas.
Mauritius Health Care and Insurance
The medical facilities available in Mauritius are adequate but more limited than other countries. Public hospitals and clinics provide free medical care to locals and are facilitated by the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life. In 2009, the Government in Mauritius spent approximately 5.7 per cent of GDP on health care expenditure. The Government are responsible for running the nation’s eight public hospitals and community health centres. The public medical sector has primary health care services, district and regional health care services and hi tech/quaternary healthcare (consisting of specialist hospitals). These medical facilities are funded primarily by taxes. Health care is a guaranteed right for all citizens in Mauritius.
Emergency assistance is limited in Mauritius, a Government run organisation called Service Aide Medicale Urgence or the SAMU provide ambulance and emergency services and can be reached by phoning 114. Many expatriates living in Mauritius subscribe to a private organisation called MegaCare.
Many visitors to Mauritius may prefer to be treated at private hospitals or clinics if they require medical care. Private medical facilities can be expensive. Approximately 17 private medical facilities supplement the public facilities. The majority of doctors at private clinics were educated in Western countries. Fortis Clinique Darne (telephone: 230 601 2300), located in Floreal, is one of the oldest and most reputable private hospitals in Mauritius. The clinic was recently renovated and modernised and offers many medical, surgical and clinical medical services. Another high quality private medical facility is Apollo Bramwell Hospital (telephone: 230 605 1000), a 200 bed multi disciplinary hospital pioneered by British American Investment.
Medical tourism in Mauritius is growing rapidly as the cost of private treatment is less than some other countries. Cosmetic surgery and dentistry are common attractions. Mauritius provides a beautiful and relaxing environment for patients to recover in.
Many medical facilities will require payment from patients in cash and treatment of serious medical problems may require medical evacuation to a country with better medical facilities, such as nearby South Africa. Travellers to Mauritius should ensure that they purchase travel insurance which covers the cost of medical evacuation as it can be very expensive.
Mauritius Travel Advice and Insurance
In 2005, Mauritius abolished the 80 per cent tax on approximately 1,850 different types of goods in order to attract overseas tourists with duty free shopping. The transport system in Mauritius is plagued by heavy traffic, particularly in the capital city Port Louis. The only forms of public transport available are taxis, which are expensive especially at night, and buses. Taxis often receive commission, up to 30 per cent, from certain hotels, restaurants and shops. Travellers should be wary of taxi drivers who tell them that their hotel of choice is full or the shop they wish to go to is closed. Visitors should insist that the taxi driver takes them where they have requested to be taken.
Mauritius is a safe place for tourists to visit. Like many other countries, theft in tourist areas is common so visitors should take care to safe guard their belongings. Pick pocketing and purse snatching does occur especially in crowded areas. Break-ins have also been reported; the offenders are not normally violent but they may carry weapons with them. An Irish tourist was murdered in her hotel room in January 2011, such incidents are very uncommon but travellers should be wary of their safety. Visitors should avoid walking alone on public beaches and in poorly lit or deserted areas at night.
If you require emergency assistance while travelling in Mauritius, emergency telephone numbers are, 999 for police, 114 for medical assistance and 115 for the fire service. Visitors to Mauritius should ensure that they are vaccinated against hepatitis A, hepatitis B and typhoid. They should also ensure that their childhood vaccinations for measles/mumps/rubella (MMR), diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus and polio are up-to-date. Visitors arriving from areas infected with yellow fever will need to prove upon arrival that they have had a yellow fever vaccination. Mauritius is free from malaria.
Outbreaks of Chikungunya, which is spread by mosquitoes, have been reported but have decreased since 2006. An outbreak of dengue fever was reported in June 2009. Travellers should take precautions to ensure that they are not bitten by mosquitoes including wearing long pants and tops, sleeping with nets over the bed and using an insect repellent that contains DEET. Water from the tap should be treated or boiled before it is consumed. Bottled water is readily available.
Mauritius Expat Health Insurance
If you choose to visit spectacular Mauritius you should ensure that you and your family have travel insurance so that you will have access to the best medical facilities. While the public medical facilities are adequate, the private facilities, although more expensive, offer better treatment and care. At Global Health Insurance we specialise in helping our customers select the best health insurance package for their needs, including people traveling to Mauritius. Expat health insurance that we can offer 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.
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