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

Nepal Expat Health Insurance

The mountainous Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal borders China and India, and has some of the world’s tallest peaks, including Mount Everest. It had been ruled by Ghurkha dynasties from the 18th century until 2008 when a republic was declared. Given its strategic position between two major Asian powers, Nepal fell under India’s sphere of influence for much of its history, as a sort of geopolitical counterweight to Tibet and China. Despite its small geographic size, Nepal’s varied terrain from peaks to valleys leads to diverse microclimates, including tropical savannahs and coniferous forests in the southern lowlands or “Terai”. Economically speaking, Nepal is very poor and is reliant on aid to ensure the welfare of its citizens. Most of the population are engaged in agriculture; textiles, carpets and leather goods are among the leading exports.

Like most poverty-stricken countries, Nepal’s health insurance and health care indicators are very poor. Life expectancy is only 65 years for males and 69 years for females. Annual per capita health expenditure per capita is only USD69, although this represents 5.8 percent of GDP. Due to political instability, the most recent data on Nepalese health care accounts comes from 2003. According to these old figures, government expenditure made up just 16.8 percent of total health expenditure. Household out-of-pocket spending made up most of the remainder. Development aid represents about 20 percent of health care spending in Nepal.

Nepal Health Care and Health Indicators

In spite of its poverty, Nepal suffers from a low burden of communicable disease in comparison with its Southeast Asian neighbours. HIV infection rates are lower than half of the global average; tuberculosis rates at 240 cases per 100,000 Nepalese are higher than the global norm, but less than the regional average of 278 cases. Unfortunately, the country does suffer from many health concerns which afflict low-income countries. Maternal mortality rates are high, with 380 for every 100,000 live births (compared with a global average of 260. Antenatal, maternal and infant care is extremely scarce and marked by regional and socioeconomic inequity. For example, less than one-fifth of all Nepalese births are attended by skilled health care personnel, compared with about half of Southeast Asian births although about half of births from wealthy urban Nepalese are supervised. While overall access to improved drinking water has increased over the past two decades, this has actually declined in urban areas such as Kathmandu, due to political instability. Access to sanitation facilities is limited to only about one fourth of Nepalese residents.

Nepal’s health care workforce is seriously understaffed. There are 2.1 doctors and 4.6 nurses and midwives per 10,000 Nepalese. By comparison, there are 5.4 doctors and 13.3 nurses and midwives per 10,000 Southeast Asians, and even these figures are very low by global standards. Private locally provided Nepal health insurance is virtually nonexistent, as mentioned above, most health care spending is out of pocket. Most Nepalese hospitals and health care clinics can provide only basic care, and many suffer shortages of supplies, medicines and even clean water and electricity. The WHO also runs one Collaborating Centre in Kathmandu at the SAARC Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS Centre for carrying out research on these devastating illnesses. Overall WHO cooperation with Nepal amounts to spending of nearly USD15 million annually in programmes aiding in the decentralisation of care, promoting health equity and combating vaccine-preventable diseases.

Nepal Travel Advice

The World Health Organization has reported several outbreaks of encephalitis in Nepal, though fortunately the most recent was in 1997. For visitors to Nepal, among the most serious health concerns are symptoms connected to altitude sickness, especially for mountaineers. Foreign visitors to Nepal are generally mountaineers or aid workers, and the US Centre for Disease control has issued a number of guidelines. Due to the lack of local Nepal health insurance, visitors are advised to use an international health care plan. Four to six weeks before visiting Nepal, tourists should ensure that routine immunisations are updated; rabies and encephalitis jabs are also recommended. Malaria is also prevalent in the lowlands of Nepal, so visitors are advised to take anti-malarial pills, wear long sleeved clothing, sleep under mosquito nets and use insect repellent with DEET.

Due to the shortages of quality pharmaceuticals in Nepal, visitors are urged to bring their own anti-malarial from their home country following consultation with a travel health specialist. Required prescription drugs and antibiotics should also be brought from home. Iodine tablets and water filters are suggested for those visiting more remote areas where clean bottled water may not be available. As with any foreign destination, the most common travellers’ complaint is diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting associated with gastrointestinal distress. Acute cases should be treated with over the counter medication brought from home, but persistent symptoms will require physician’s care.

The weakness of Nepal health insurance and care also requires that tourists take proper preventative measures against dengue fever, filariasis, leptospiros, measles and avian influenza, all of which are common to the region.

Nepal Expat Health Insurance

Nepal is one of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring places on earth, with much to offer the visitor. But its poverty and lack of Nepal health insurance and low standards of care mean serious risks for those who are unprepared. A medical emergency may require expensive air evacuation which can cost tens of thousands of US dollars to get to a quality healthcare facility in or outside of Nepal. Expat health insurance can prevent your most memorable holiday or international work experience from being ruined by the unthinkable

With the wide range of international and expatriate health insurance plans on the market, choosing the best option for your needs can be a daunting task. Fortunately, Global Health Insurance offers a dedicated team of experienced advisors who can assist you in selecting the health care plan that’s right for you and your journey to Nepal. Expat health insurance can offer optional coverage benefits including maternity, dental, specialist cover and more. Our advisors are available to consult on plans to ensure you. Contact Global Health Insurance today.