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Rwanda Expat Health Insurance

Tragically, Rwanda is probably best known for the long-running Hutu-Tutsi conflict which culminated in the 1994 genocide. This high altitude country borders Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Formerly a German colony, it was handed over to the Belgians following the First World War, and achieved independence in 1962. Today, Rwanda’s official languages are Kinyarwanda, English and French. Rwanda continues to recover from the civil war of the 1990s, and has emerged as an exporter of coffee and tea. Tourism has also increased, especially for those interested in tracking mountain gorillas. Although it is located near the equator, Rwanda’s temperature is lower than most tropical countries due to its altitude.

Rwanda Healthcare System

Rwandan healthcare is generally very poor. Life expectancy is 57 years for males and 60 years for females. Total health care spending is high as a percentage of GDP at 9.0 percent, although due to Rwanda’s poverty, this is only US$ 102 per capita annually, less than the African regional average. Government expenditure makes up 43.2 percent of overall health care spending. Among private spending, about 10 percent comes from private Rwanda health insurance. Out-of-pocket expenditure accounts for 44.4 percent of private health care spending in Rwanda.

Rwanda’s health care system is woefully understaffed, with only 0.2 doctors and 4.5 nurses and midwives per 10,000 people. These figures are far below the already low standards of the region.

Although civil unrest has lessened in Rwanda, the burden of communicable disease still remains and most conditions are exacerbated by poverty, poor nutrition and limited sanitation. While malaria is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality, rates of infection are in decline thanks to focused efforts at reduction. There are 565 cases of tuberculosis per 100,000 Rwandans, more than two and a half times the global average, and exceeding even the regional norm. Although HIV infection rates are below the African average, with 29 cases per 1,000 adults aged 15 – 49, it is still three and a half times the global standard.

An increase in smoking, sedentary lifestyles and poor diet among certain segments of the population is leading to concern about an increase in non-communicable disease such as diabetes, cancer and cardiopulmonary problems.

Rwandan antenatal, maternal and infant care levels are also very low as a result of understaffed health clinics and lack of supplies. In Rwanda, maternal mortality affects 540 out of every 100,000 live births, more than double the global average. Less than one fourth of Rwandans have access to minimum standards of antenatal care and only about half of births are accompanied by a skilled health care professional. Hence, infant and child mortality rates are nearly double the global average.

As Rwanda continues to repair infrastructure damaged during the civil war, access to clean drinking water remains a problem. About one fourth of Rwandans do not have access to improved drinking water sources. Alarmingly, access to improved drinking water has actually declined in urban parts of Rwanda since 1990. Access to improved sanitation facilities has increased over the past two decades, but is only available to about half of Rwandans. Diarrhoea and other gastrointestinal complaints are one of the main causes of mortality and morbidity in Rwanda.

Health care in Rwanda is heavily dependent on foreign aid, charities and NGOs. The WHO has drafted a Country Cooperation Strategy with Rwanda’s Ministry of Health in order to create a roadmap for future improvement and reform in the delivery of care. The main strategic objectives are: reducing maternal and child mortality, controlling disease, food and health safety, and overall improvement of the health system.

Before visiting Rwanda, routine immunisations should be updated at a travel clinic in your home country. Proof of yellow fever vaccination is required of all visitors older than one year of age. Rabies jabs are recommended for those planning to spend a significant amount of time in rural areas near animals.

Because of the health risks involved with malaria, travellers are advised to avoid insect bites. Wearing long sleeved clothing, using insect repellent with DEET and sleeping under mosquito nets while visiting Rwanda are all recommended. Taking prescription anti-malarial drugs on a preventative basis may also be suggested. Pharmaceuticals should be obtained in your home country to ensure security of supply. Other insect borne diseases such as dengue, river blindness and African sleeping sickness are also common to Rwanda.

Although diarrhoea and other stomach problems are common traveller complaints around the world, in Rwanda these can be fatal due to high temperatures and lack of clean water and sanitation. Avoid raw and undercooked foods and drink only bottled water with no ice. Over the counter medications may be used to treat most acute cases, but persistent diarrrhoea, nausea and vomiting should be treated by a physician.

Despite its natural bounty and recent economic growth, Rwanda is a very poor country with very limited health care options. Thanks to recent efforts of the WHO and Ministry of Health, 75% of the population is now within 5 km of a health centre, but many of these provide only basic care and are subject to shortages of staff, equipment and medication. Some even lack electricity and running water. Travellers to Rwanda will generally require air evacuation for serious medical emergencies, which can cost in excess of USD100,000.

Rwanda Expat Health Insurance

An international health insurance plan is strongly recommended to provide peace of mind to you and your family during overseas travel or relocation to Rwanda. Expat health insurance policies come with many different options and levels of coverage, so it can be difficult to find the right fit. Fortunately, Global Health Insurance has a dedicated team of experienced advisors ready to assist you in your search for the right insurance plan for your journeys to Rwanda. Expat health insurance plans can cover alternative, dental, maternal and specialist care – as well as air evacuation – we can find the best international health insurance plan for you, your family, your tour group, or your company. Contact Global Health Insurance today for more details.