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Gabon: Healthcare System
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Gabon is located on the west coast of Africa and it stands astride
of the equator. The total land area of Gabon is 257,669 square
kilometers. The country is bordered by Cameroon on the North, by
the Republic of the Congo (ROC) on the East and South, by the
Atlantic Ocean on the West, and by Equatorial Guinea on the
Northwest. Libreville is the capital city of Gabon, which is
located on the northwestern coast of the country.
Gabon has an equatorial climate; it is always hot and humid, with
up to 80% humidity and an average temperature of around 25°C.
January is the hottest month in the country, with an average
temperature range of 23°C to 31°C. From June to September are the
dry months for Gabon and the rainy season is from October to May.
Heavy rainfall can be expected during the rainy season.
Many nature lovers and adventure travellers consider Gabon as a
rare and exotic tropical gem. Attractions in Gabon include
tropical rainforests with interesting wildlife such as
chimpanzees, elephants and gorillas, the vast green savannahs,
deserted sandy beaches, lagoons, estuaries and breathtaking
African sunsets.
The healthcare system in Gabon is comprised of both public and
private sectors. Although the majority of the healthcare services
are public, some private bodies are available in the country. The
infrastructure of Gabon’s healthcare system is widely considered
to be one of West Africa’s best. It is estimated that about 90% of
the population in Gabon has access to public healthcare services.
According to the World Health Organisation’s rankings of the
world's health systems, Gabon ranked 139 out of 190 countries.
The healthcare system in Gabon is divided into five different
health sectors, namely the civilian public sector, the public
military sector, the National Health Social Security Funding and
private insurance system sector, the private health sector and the
traditional health sector. The public healthcare system in Gabon
provides geographic coverage to most parts of the country. The
goal is to provide the population with good access to health
information and efficient monitoring of emerging diseases.
Although the population in the country is distributed equally
between urban and rural areas, access to medical treatments and
prevention services is better in urban areas, where financial
resources are focused and medical structures are more developed.
Although healthcare facilities in the rural areas of Gabon is
limited, the Gabonese Government is trying its best to improve and
provide comprehensive medical services to people who are living in
the rural areas. The total expenditure in Gabon spent on
healthcare is approximately 3.7% of the country’s GDP.
Under the public healthcare system in Gabon, patients are required
to pay for the services provided by the doctors. Medications are
expensive in the country and are often unavailable in rural areas.
Clinics in the rural areas are generally not well equipped;
patients often need to make their own way to the nearest town or
city to obtain medical treatments. Rather than visiting a town
doctor, some patients may seek alternative treatment, such as
visiting a local healer instead. In the case of serious medical
emergency, patients can only be treated in the capital city,
Libreville, where better medical facilities and equipment are
available. Patients who stay in the State hospitals in Gabon are
responsible for their own bedding and food.
The State hospitals in Gabon are not up to international standards
and it is far from on par with the standard that most of the
foreigners are used to in Western countries. The doctor to patient
ratio in Gabon is 49 to 100,000 people; this makes the country
ranked number 9 out of a total of 52 African countries in terms of
doctor to patient ratios. Private clinics and hospitals are
available in the larger cities and towns, and they provide a wide
range of medical services. However, these medical services are
expensive and doctors and hospitals usually demand immediate cash
payment prior to medical treatments. Patients either make out of
pocket payments or put in place a medical insurance plan to ensure
proper reimbursement. Due to the fact that two-thirds of the
Gabonean population is living below the poverty line, only a small
group of people can afford paying for medical services in this
private sector. If you are planning on spending a long amount of
time in Gabon, having an international health insurance policy may
be advisable as in some cases, the medical facility best suited to
treat you may be in another country.
Malaria is widespread in Gabon. HIV/AIDS is a continuous growing
problem for the country. There are occasional outbreaks of Ebola
virus which strike rural areas, this normally caused by people who
have close contact with infected animals.
If you are looking for peace-of-mind knowing that medical costs
will be covered in case of an accident or illness for yourself and
your family while travelling to Gabon, an expat medical insurance
plan will be the optimal solution for you. Global Health Insurance
policies offered by Globalsurance can assist you to customise the
policy coverage to suit your individual requirements. We offer a
wide variety of insurance plans for individuals, families,
teachers and groups, which may include benefits for inpatient,
outpatient, dental, maternity, travel and many others. To discuss
more with our experienced consultants on the most appropriate
level of insurance that meet your needs, please contact one of our
expert advisers now.
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