Paraguay Expat Health Insurance
The Republic of Paraguay is a landlocked country in South America made up of approximately 6.5 million people. The country shares its borders with Argentina, Bolivia and Brazil and gained independence from Spain in 1811. The official languages in Paraguay are Spanish and Guarani, which is understood by approximately 90 percent of the population. Paraguay is home to a large number of Brazilians, many of whom are descents of Germans, Italians and Polish immigrants. Paraguay has been influenced by Germany who founded several towns in Paraguay.
Paraguay is often referred to as the Heart of America and is home to the Paraguay River which runs through the centre of the country. The country is divided into seventeen departments and one capital district, the capital city is Asuncion. The eastern parts of Paraguay contain grassy plains and forested hills, while the western parts are have low lying marshy plains. The remainder of Paraguay consists of dry forest and thorny scrub. The country has varying climates which range from subtropical to temperate. The eastern areas of Paraguay often receive a large amount of rainfall.
Paraguay’s citizens are polar opposites of poor and wealthy. Horse drawn carts can be seen next to the latest European cars and workshops are scattered amongst modern shopping areas. Statistics gathered in 2009 show that approximately 35 percent of the population is poor, of which 19 percent are living in extreme poverty predominantly in rural areas. Paraguay’s economy features the re-exporting of goods to nearby countries, street vendors and agriculture. Paraguay is the sixth largest producer of soy in the world, although a recent drought and the global recession have reduced exports.
The country has an informal free commercial zone which is the third most important in the world. Recently Paraguay branched into the industrial sector which employees approximately one third of the work force. This sector has been manufacturing the country’s own pharmaceuticals and producing cooking oil, clothing, organic sugar, steel and processing meat. Manufacturing of wood and paper products, hides and furs and minerals is also taking place in Paraguay. The manufacturing sector employs approximately 11 percent of the work force.
Paraguay Health Care and Insurance
The medical facilities in Paraguay range from adequate to poorly equipped and unsanitary. Paraguay spends less per capita on health care then all the other Latin America countries. The country increased spending on health care during the 1980’s and 1990’s, slowed down in the early to mid 2000’s and is now gradually increasing health care spending. In 2009 public expenditure on health care accounted for approximately 2.9 percent of GDP and private expenditure contributed approximately 5.1 percent. Many preventable diseases are wide spread in rural parts of the country including parasites and respiratory diseases. Malnutrition, poor sanitation and a lack of good health care are the main causes of Paraguay’s health problems.
Sadly in 2001 it was recorded that 27 percent of the population had no access to health care but this is now changing for the better. Paraguay has both public and private medical facilities. Not many people have medical insurance so the private facilities are run on a pay as you go basis, making them unaffordable for many people.
The Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare is responsible for approving and co-ordinating both the public and private medical facilities. The Government run the Instituto de Previsión Socialis which is funded by the Government, employers and employees. It provides free pensions, medical care and subsidies to approximately 20 percent of the population. Recently the Government has been expanding free health care, following the swearing in of President Fernando Lugo in August 2008. The President wants to increase Government spending on health care and has reformed Paraguay’s tax system to fund it.
The changes made to Paraguay’s health system so far include the making of some public health services free in September 2008, when fees for outpatient visits and emergency room visits were waived. Hospital admission fees were subsequently eliminated, along with charges for intensive care, post-operative care, nebulizer treatments, treatment in an infant incubator, oxygen therapy, surgery and other services. In late 2009, fees were removed for diagnostic tests, for dental and ophthalmological services.
There are approximately 1,000 public hospitals and clinics in Paraguay. The better medical facilities are located in the capital city Asuncion. The facilities in other parts of Paraguay are very basic and not up to Western standards, although the Government is aiming to improve them. Travellers visiting medical facilities in Paraguay will need to pay in cash for their treatment. Visitors with serious medical conditions may need to be medically evacuated to the nearest country with better medical facilities. Medical evacuation is expensive so travellers should take out travel insurance for Paraguay to cover the cost.
If you require medical assistance while travelling in Paraguay some of the better medical facilities, all of which are located in Asuncion, include Sanatorio San Roque (telephone: 595 21 212 499), Sanatorio Medica La Costa (telephone: 595 21 200 900), Centro Medico Bautista (telephone: 595 21 600 994) and Sanatorio Migone Battilana (telephone: 595 21 498 200).
Pharmacies are well stocked in the capital city Asuncion but not in other parts of Paraguay. Travellers should bring sufficient medications with them for their visit to ensure that they do not run out and find that they cannot locate refills.
Paraguay Travel Advice
Paraguay is a relatively safe country for travellers to visit. The majority of tourists are usually from Paraguay’s neighbouring countries; however the locals do welcome visitors from further afield. Tourists should not walk around the capital city and its neighbouring towns alone at night. Muggings and snatchings of valuables are common so care should be taken with personal belongings and valuables should not be publically displayed.
Travellers need to be aware that poisonous snakes are common in Paraguay and rivers often have strong currents. Visitors to Paraguay should ensure that their childhood vaccinations are kept up to date, including vaccinations against measles/mumps/rubella (MMR), diphtheria/pertussis/ tetanus and polio. Visitors should also have vaccinations against hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and typhoid.
Visitors who are travelling further afield than the capital city of Asuncion, should consider being vaccinated against yellow fever. Proof that you have had a yellow fever vaccination is mandatory for those visitors who arrive from countries that are infected with yellow fever. A rabies vaccination is also recommended for travellers who will be spending a large amount of time outdoors. Visitors should not touch the stray dogs which wander the streets in Paraguay. The rate of HIV/Aids in Paraguay is low per capita however it is on the rise. Travellers should take precautions to ensure that they do not contract it.
Travellers who plan on visiting the departments of Alto Parana, Caaguazu and Canendiyu should also take anti malarial tablets before visiting Paraguay as these areas have malaria. Precautions should be taken to ensure that you are not bitten including wearing long sleeves and pants, using an insect repellent with DEET and sleeping in air conditioned accommodation or in beds with nets. Travellers are at risk of picking up a foot flea known locally as pique (officially tunga penetrans) which collect around the toes and lay eggs in the feet if not taken care of. Symptoms include itching or tenderness in the feet.
Major outbreaks of dengue fever have recently been reported in 2011 infecting approximately 23,000 people and killing 79. The outbreaks occurred in the departments of Asuncion (the capital city), Alto Parana and Ciudad del Este. This disease is transmitted by the Aedes mosquitoes which often bite in the daytime and in very populated areas in Paraguay. Precautions should be taking to avoid being bitten.
Outbreaks of hantavirus infections have also been reported from the Boqueron , Villa Hayes Chaco and Presidente Hayes departments in Paraguay in July and August 2011. This disease has infected 20 people and killed eight. These infections are caused from exposure to rodent droppings which travellers are unlikely to come in contact with. Likewise Chagas disease is also common in Paraguay which is spread by reduviid bugs in substandard housing.
Travellers requiring a public ambulance in Paraguay should telephone 911. Alternatively private ambulances can be reached by telephoning 595 21 206 660, 595 21 610 629 or 595 21 600 274. The tap water is safe to drink in the capital city of Asuncion. Water in other areas of Paraguay should be treated to make it safe for drinking.
Paraguay Expat Health Insurance
If you choose to visit or relocate to Paraguay it is recommended that you have medical insurance to cover the cost of medical treatment if required. The better medical facilities in Paraguay are private and can be costly. If you or your family are diagnosed with a serious medical condition, you may need to be evacuated to a nearby country with better medical facilities than Paraguay. Expat health insurance can ensure that you have cover for emergency medical evacuation which can be expensive. At Global Health Insurance our team of health insurance experts can help you find an insurance plan that meets your needs in Panama, expat health insurance that we work with can covers such things as medical evacuation, inpatient, outpatient and maternity costs. Please contact us today to discuss your needs and receive a free quotation.
Recent Questions / Comments:
| Click Here to Read the Answer | |
| Hi, My mom will be coming from north africa to visit me in the USA and stay for acouple of weeks. Recently she has been having a heavy hand and legs feeling. She has been prescribed a medication that is usualy prescribed for patients with mild parkinson's. I would like to get some second opinion and test(scans) performed on her in the USA. I don't think that she has parkinson's and I would like to confirn this in a center/hospital that I trust. My mom has an inssurance coverage with mutuelle Maroc,which is a partner with SwissLife and AXA. I wonder if she can get an international coverage with your company that will covers specialist evaluation, MRI, and oether scans if necessary. Thank you | |
| Click Here to Read the Answer | |
| Hi, We (Doanldson Europe BVBA in Belgium) are looking for a hosptal & medical insurance for one of our families (family van den Enden) we are relocating to Brockville, Canada. Up till now we haven't found an insurance compay willing to cover the pre-existing condition of Mrs. van den Enden which is bronchial asthma. Would you be able to offer us a solution with an insurance who is willing to cover also the pre-existing condition. Thanks in advance for your reply, Veerle Matthijs | |
| Click Here to Read the Answer | |
| do you have any insurance plan for Ivf treatment? Like if the first attempt is not successful then is there any plan to cover the next attempt? | |
