Turkmenistan Expat Health Insurance
Turkmenistan is located in Central Asia and is one of six independent Turkic states. It is also commonly referred to as Turkmenia. The country shares its borders with Afghanistan, Iran, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. Until 1991 Turkmenistan was a republic of the Soviet Union known as Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic. It is now independent and an associate member of the Commonwealth of Independent States. The population of the country is approximately 4.9 million and the capital city is Ashgabat.
Turkmenistan has the second largest reserves of natural gas resources in the world. It also produces oil and is the world’s 10th largest producer of cotton. The open natural gas pit, known as “the gates of hell”, can be viewed in Darvaza which is north of the capital city. The country was a dictatorship operated by a single party system for many years. Since the death of President Niyazov in 2006 some of the country’s policies have been changed, including the ban on opera and the circus; the former President did not think that operas and circuses were sufficiently Turkmen, and consequently banned them from the country.
A new Constitution was adopted in 2008 which allows for multiple political parties.
Turkmenistan has a poor human rights track record. Its citizens have had harsh restrictions placed on them in relation to overseas travel, and many ethnic minorities and citizens with Russian names are discriminated against. The country is one of the 10 most censored countries in the world and has the 3rd worst press freedom in the world.
During the reign of the former President unemployment was high, it reached 60 percent in 2004, and the country lacked export routes for the natural gas it produced. Currently China is set to be the biggest recipient of Turkmenistan’s natural gas as a pipeline will link the two countries. The country also supplies gas to Russia, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.
The landscape in the country is dominated by the Karakum (black sand) Dessert earning the name “the sand box”. The official language is Turkmen. Russian is also spoken in cities. The country has a colourful past as many nationalities, including Persians, Arabs, Russians, and Afghanis, resided there on their way to more prosperous lands.
Tourists will be amazed at the wealth on display in the capital city Ashgabat. The former President spent most of the country’s revenue renovating the city. White marble is everywhere in the city, including on the pavements. Another tourist attraction is the city of Tolkuchka which has the largest bazaar in the world. The city of Merv is home to large fortresses built before 550 BC. Turkmenistan also has a resort city called Awaza.
Turkmenistan is an extremely dry country as 80 percent of it is made up of desert. Some parts of the country receive as little as 1.2 centimetres of rain each year. The winters are mild and dry with most rain occurring from January to May.
Turkmenistan Health Care and Insurance
Medical care in Turkmenistan is limited and well below Western standards. Health care costs can be very expensive so travel insurance is a must. If you suffer a serious medical condition while travelling in Turkmenistan you may need to be evacuated to a nearby country with more adequate medical facilities. Medical evacuation may be logistically impossible if you do not have medical insurance which covers it.
Basic medical supplies are often in short supply in Turkmenistan including disposable needles, anaesthetics and antibiotics. Medical practitioners are poorly trained and the facilities limited. Some diagnostic facilities can be found, particularly in the capital city; however, the staff in the facilities are often not trained adequately to use the equipment on hand. The country has two private medical clinics with Turkish medical practitioners. These clinics’ facilities are still well below those found in other countries and they may refuse to treat you if your injury is too serious; regardless of whether you have Turkmenistan medical insurance, or can pay for the treatment.
Access to prescription medication is limited so travellers should bring sufficient quantities with them when travelling to Turkmenistan, as well as documentation to ensure that there are no problems at customs. The former President had closed many of the country’s medical facilities. In 2010 a new Centre for Cancer Care has opened in the capital city.
In the event of a medical emergency during the day, English speaking tourists can contact the Peace Corps medical unit (telephone: 35 46 31). For after hours assistance Russian and Turkmen speakers can contact either the Central Hospital Turkish (telephone: 45 03 33) or the Niyazov Hospital (telephone: 43 19 16).
Turkmenistan Travel Insurance Concerns
It is recommended that visitors to Turkmenistan have vaccinations against hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, polio and rabies (if spending a great deal of time outdoors). Visitors should also ensure that their childhood vaccinations are up to date including measles/mumps/rubella (MMR), diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus and polio.
Independent travel for tourists is difficult outside of the main cities due to limited infrastructure and Government imposed travel restrictions. Tourists will need to hire a guide if they want to venture further afield. Guides can be hired at the Ashgabat train station for as little as US$50 per day.
Tourist facilities in Turkmenistan are limited, especially outside of the capital city Ashgabat. Many of the goods and services that tourists take for granted in Western countries are not available in Turkmenistan. The country is a cash economy with only a few hotels accepting credit card for payment, US dollars are accepted and traveller’s cheques can be cashed. There are no ATMs.
Visitors intending on travelling to Turkmenistan require a letter of invitation approved by the Government of Turkmenistan in order to apply for a visa. The letter of invitation and the visa need to be presented at customs upon arrival. Tourists need to pay approximately US$12 for an immigration card when arriving into Turkmenistan. This card needs to be returned when you depart. If you depart from Ashgabat airport and are not flying with a local airline then you will need to pay a departure fee of approximately US$25. If you stay in Turkmenistan is longer than 3 days then you will need to register at the State Migration Service and deregister one day before you plan to depart.
The country has many “restricted zones” particularly near the borders with Iran, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan. Tourists can only travel to these areas with special permission from the Government. The country has a large police presence who may ask to see tourist’s passports, visas, immigration cards and State Migration Service registrations. Tourists may also be placed under surveillance by security. Hotels room and telephones may be monitored and personal possessions in hotel rooms may be searched. Visitors should be cautious when taking photographs of buildings as taking photos of anything that may be seen as of military or security interest may cause issues with the local authorities.
Petty theft is common in crowded public places so travellers should take care of their personal possessions and not leave them in parked vehicles. Assault, rape and murder do occur and sometimes involve tourists. There is only one Government owned and regulated taxi company operating in the capital city (telephone: 32 97 75), the others have not had any formal training. Tourists should consider hiring a private car and driver for safety reasons.
The emergency telephone number in Turkmenistan is 03. For a private ambulance telephone either the Central Hospital (Turkish) on 45 03 03, the S A Niyazov International Medical Center on 48 90 06, the Central Hospital named after Turkmenbashi the Great on 34 86 21 or the VIP Hospital at 39 08 77.
Tourists should be careful when purchasing carpets, jewellery, musical instruments, art, artefacts and antiques which could be considered to be of historical value to the country. People taking carpets out of the country must produce a certificate from the Carpet Museum in Ashgabat showing that it’s not of historical value. Some carpets are sold with the certificate already obtained.
The country is home to many poisonous snakes and insects including scorpions which can be seen in cities. Travellers should be cautious particularly around tall grasses so that they are not bitten. It is also advisable to be careful with what you eat in Turkmenistan, avoid tap water, salads and cold foods.
Turkmenistan Expat Health Insurance
Medical insurance is a must for anyone travelling to Turkmenistan as the medical facilities are extremely limited and expensive. Emergency medical evacuation may be required for serious illnesses or accidents which cannot be treated in Turkmenistan. Expat health insurance can often provide you the high levels of coverage you need to have access to such healthcare services in an emergency, and prevent them from posing a financial risk to you. At Global Health Insurance we can help you choose an international medical insurance plan that includes emergency evacuation and meets your specific health insurance needs, however long your stay in Turkmenistan. Expat health insurance plans we work with can offer a wide range of optional benefits including maternity, dental and specialist treatments. Please contact us today for a free quotation.
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