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Cape verde international health insurance / healthcare system
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 Cape Verde is
a country situated in the West African region. The country is
comprised of a group of 10 islands and 5 outlying islets in the
North Atlantic Ocean. Among all, three of the islands are rocky
mountains. The closest neighbouring country to Cape Verde is
Senegal. The total land area of Cape Verde is 4,033 square
kilometers. The capital, Praia, is located on Santiago Island in
the south of the archipelago. The country is a former Portuguese
colony and therefore Portuguese is the official language in Cape
Verde.
Cape Verde has tropical climate all year round, and the weather is
typically hot, dry and slightly windy. The Average temperature is
between 26 to 30°C. The two seasons in Cape Verde are the dry
season and the humid season. The dry season runs from November to
July while the humid season generally lasts from August to
October.
Due to the hot and windy climate in Cape Verde, the country has
some of the best settings for kite and windsurfing in the world.
Water sports like diving, surfing and sailing are definitely one
of the popular tourists’ attractions in Cape Verde.
Public and privately run healthcare is available in Cape Verde.
The healthcare infrastructure in the country that meets the needs
of the residents is provided through central and regional
hospitals, health centres, health services, private practices and
pharmacies. The country provides free public healthcare to its
citizens through small hospitals on each island. In general, the
healthcare facilities in Cape Verde are very basic and the number
of facilities is in short supply.
Although pharmacies can be found in most of the towns, there is
always a lack of supply in medicines, while certain types of
medications may not be available in the country. If you are on
medication, while travelling to Cape Verde, it is advisable to
bring along a large enough supply of your medication to cover the
duration of your whole trip. Moreover, there is a shortage of
medical professionals in Cape Verde, where the
doctor-to-population ratio in the country is alarmingly low at
0.49:1,000.
Although the standard of the medical facilities and resources in
Cape Verde are no way on par with those in western countries,
among many countries in West Africa however, the country’s
healthcare is already considered as advanced. According to the
World Health Organisation’s rankings of the world's healthcare
systems, Cape Verde ranked 113 out of 190 countries. The total
expenditure that the Government spent on healthcare in Cape Verde
is around 4.6% of the country’s GDP. Recently, the Government has
put investment into upgrading the public medical facilities and
the building of new hospitals and clinics in major towns of the
country.
Major infectious and parasitic diseases in Cape Verde include
tuberculosis, pneumonia, bronchitis, and gastrointestinal
ailments. The prevalence of HIV/AIDS remains low at about 0.04%.
It is recommended that visitors to be aware of hygiene concerns in
the country and obtain appropriate vaccinations and medications
prior to travelling to Cape Verde.
Although visitors receive free medical treatment in hospitals in
Cape Verde upon presentation of their passports, in certain
islands, very limited medical facilities are available. Moreover,
there is only limited public transport service that runs
frequently between the islands. Restricted access to healthcare in
these islands may result in delayed treatments for patients, which
may in turn lead to patients’ unnecessary deaths. As such, it is
highly recommended that travellers purchase a travel or medical
insurance policy which includes emergency repatriation coverage.
In the case of emergency, patients can receive immediate
treatments from nearby countries, in which they are equipped with
better medical facilities.
Private healthcare is available in Cape Verde. Private hospitals
and clinics can be found on larger islands, however, private
doctors usually demand payment upfront for all medical services
rendered. Doctors who practice in private hospitals and clinics
normally received their education in Portugal or other European
countries. Treatment at private healthcare facilities on smaller
islands is typically very expensive. Due to the fact that 30% of
the Cape Verdean population is living below the poverty line, only
a small group of people can afford paying for medical services in
the private sector.
The healthcare system in Cape Verde does have its limitations. For
visitors and expatriates who prefer to have a sense of security
and to ensure that medical costs will be covered in the event of
an accident or illness while travelling to Cape Verde, purchasing
a comprehensive travel insurance policy or a cape verde international health
insurance plan will be the best solution for you.
Globalsurance is a one-stop insurance brokerage service provider
for you when travelling to Cape Verde. We offer a wide range of
policies to meet your individual needs, including benefits such as
dental, maternity, inpatient, outpatient, specialist
consultations, and many others. We offer a large variety of
healthcare plans as well as travellers insurance plans. Contact
our professional advisers today to enjoy full insurance protection
such as an Expat Health Insurance Plan for yourself and your
family.
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