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Burkina Faso is located in Western Africa. It is a landlocked country sharing its borders with Benin, Mali, Togo, Ghana, Niger and Cote d'lvoire. The population exceeds 16 million people; with the capital Quagadougou, located in the center of the country, being home to one and half million people.
The Burkina Faso healthcare system is divided along administrative borders in 13 regions and 63 health districts. Each district covers a population of between 150,000 – 200,000 people. Primary healthcare operates at a community level, providing Burkinabe with general medical needs or referrals to district hospitals – there were 42 district hospitals in the country in 2008. Secondary healthcare is provided in any of the 9 central hospitals; patients are normally referred to one of these facilities after seeking medical advice from a district healthcare provider. Tertiary healthcare is provided via 3 central hospitals based in the main cities of Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso. There are a handful of private clinics available in Burkina Faso, mostly found in the cities. The national and regional hospitals have great autonomy in terms of finance and personnel management, meaning hospitals are allowed to retain fees from patients and medications sold.
Over the last decade, the authorities in Burkina Faso have increased the budget allocation for healthcare, with the proportion of the country’s budget allocated to the healthcare sector growing from 6.3 per cent in 2001 to 8.42 cent in 2008; a significant step designed to develop the healthcare system.
Although there are a number of hospitals in the country, in general private and public healthcare facilities in Burkina Faso are very limited. The access to medical care is a concern for international aid agencies and governments who work closely with Burkina Faso to improve the healthcare facilities across the country. The Burkina Faso government subsidizes patients fees if medical treatment is sought. However, Bukina Faso is an impoverished country meaning many Burkinabe are unable to afford a contribution towards medical treatment costs, limiting their treatment options to government medical facilities. The healthcare system in Burkina Faso came under scrutiny in 2010 by Amenity International, who highlighted the fact that maternal care was corrupt, lacked adequate medical equipment and qualified medical staff - resulting in a high number of deaths each year linked to child birth.
Burkina Faso is a developing country faced with constant financial problems affecting the quality of healthcare available. There is a continuous battle to provide adequate healthcare due to a shortage of resources, doctors and nurses, inadequate medical supplies and the remoteness of many Burkinabe towns and villages. Private and public healthcare facilities are present, but both are in limited supply. There is a minimal demand for private healthcare in Burkina due to many Burkinabe being unable to afford such a luxury, and there are a low number of foreign workers or tourists in the country which justify profitable provision. While public healthcare is subsidized, access is still not accessible to all as some payments still need to be made by the patient out-of-pocket. The cities and large towns are home to the better quality medical care centers, with rural areas having very limited access to facilities.
As a foreign national in Burkina Faso you will find the healthcare facilities very under-developed and inadequate compared to those available in more developed nations. However, you can expect to receive basic care for minor health issues, but any medical needs requiring extensive or specialized treatment will require medical evacuation. All foreign nationals seeking medical treatment in Burkina Faso are responsible for payments towards healthcare services.
International medical insurance in Burkina Faso is strongly recommended to cover costs in treating critical diseases prevalent in the country, or emergency treatments arising from an accident or a condition requiring surgery and evacuation or repatriation.
Bearing in mind Burkina Faso is one the poorer countries in the world – ranked 5th poorest by the United Nations Development Programme - the healthcare system is severely under-developed and there is a severe shortage of adequate medical facilities across the country. The capital Ouagadougou has the best healthcare facilities, but they are still inadequate for treatment of a medical emergency. Outside the capital, the quality of medical care declines and in rural areas is virtually non-existent.
There are numerous diseases that blight Burkina Faso and severely impact the country putting the healthcare system under immense pressure; this leads to severe problems for the country in a time of crises caused by an outbreak of a contagious disease. There are a number of major infectious diseases that severely impact Burkina Faso; they occur under different circumstances and times of the year, such as the annual meningitis epidemic which spreads quickly from January to May, but the risk declines when the rainy reasons start. However, the threat from water borne and vector borne diseases increases when rainy season arrives (May to September) resulting in malaria, typhoid fever, yellow fever and hepatitis A outbreaks. For further information on health conditions in the country it is advised you consult with a doctor prior to your trip to Burkina Faso to ensure all vaccinations are up-to-date.
A major issue regarding the healthcare system in Burkina Faso is the level of fees patients are required to pay towards medical treatment, with the vast majority of Burkinabe unable to meet payments towards medical care. Burkina Faso took significant steps to reform maternal healthcare by subsidizing 80 per cent of medical costs for pregnant women; although funding the remaining 20 per cent is still a difficult financial obligation for many Burkinabe and the clarity of the payment process is unclear. The focus on maternal healthcare has been developed in conjunction with a UN designed programme, the Millennium Development Goal, aimed at reducing maternal mortality rates in Burkina Faso by 75 per cent by 2015.
As an expatriate or a short term visitor in Burkina Faso, you will find medical centres and hospitals across the country very limited, especially outside the capital Quagadougou. Medication is very scarce, with major western brand medicines and prescription drugs unavailable in the country. It is recommended that you bring an adequate supply of medication for any pre-existing medical condition; there is a high possibility that you will be unable to acquire the correct medication in Burkina Faso.
Due to the state of the economy and disputes with neighboring Africa countries – Burkina Faso is facing an uncertain future in respect to its financial and political stability. These factors have a negative impact on development of the country’s infrastructure, including the healthcare system. As the healthcare system in Burkina Faso requires a major overhaul and investment for improvements to be effected, the short, and medium, term future looks bleak for many Burkinabe who require medical treatment.
As Burkina Faso is prone to serious outbreaks of disease, lacks medical equipment and specialist medical professionals, the state of the healthcare system is poor and health issues blight the country. Therefore it is paramount you have suitable Burkina Faso international health insurance cover for the duration of your time in the country, including emergency medical evacuation, as in the case medical emergency you will need to be air lifted to a European medical center of excellence.
If you are looking for peace-of-mind knowing that medical costs will be covered in case of an accident or illness, to yourself and your family, while traveling to or residing in Burkina Faso, international health insurance will be the ideal solution. Policies can be tailor-made to ensure all your needs are met while in Burkina Faso. Should you require further information on Burkina Faso, global medical insurance, or to receive a free quotation, please do not hesitate to call one of our expert advisers now. |
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