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Liberia International Health Insurance / Healthcare System |
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 Liberia is located on the West Coast of Africa and shares its borders with Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea and Sierra Leon, with a population just shy of 3.5 million people. Liberia has been blighted by 14 years of civil conflict, economic turmoil and is a country in the early stages of re-construction of its infrastructure.
The civil war severely impacted Liberia, leaving the country in a fragile state, with relative political stability only just returning in recent years. Liberia relies on assistance from the international community to help it re-construct and re-build its infrastructure. With much of Liberia's infrastructure being destroyed during the civil war, it has meant the healthcare system is severely inadequate, leaving many Liberian citizens with very basic healthcare facilities, little access to education and jobs, and facing a high risk of contracting serious diseases.
The Liberian healthcare system is severely inadequate, with very basic medical services being poor of quality. Years of war and economic turmoil have affected the Liberian health sector, which is clearly evident in the standard of healthcare provided in the country.
There are fundamental political and economic issues surrounding Liberia since the civil war ceased which have and will continue to influence the Liberian healthcare system in the future. A recently elected government was inaugurated in 2006, bringing some political stability and an economic growth rate of 91% in 2007. Although Liberia is faced with mounting foreign and domestic debts which amounted to US$4.5 billion in 2006, with an estimated 76% of Liberian citizens living below the poverty line. Liberia is still heavily reliant on international assistance and financial aid to support its economy and develop its infrastructure.
The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOHSW) is responsible for the Liberian health sector. The MOHSW provide health and social welfare services to citizens of Liberia, working closely with the Liberian government and international partners to deliver healthcare services across Liberia.
The Liberian health sector has been severally under-funded during the last decade, with the government of Liberia only providing a small percentage of the national budget for the MOHSW to invest in the Liberian healthcare system. During the period between 1993 and 2003, approximately 90% of all funding for the Liberian health sector has come from donor and UN agencies. However, since 2006, the government of Liberia has made more financial funding available for the Liberian healthcare sector, but this is still inadequate to effect a speedy improvement in healthcare services.
The Liberian healthcare system is in the early stages of transition, with basic medical services being restored. The World Health Organization (WHO), together with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOHSW), are initiating the health plans drawn up in the WHOs 2008-2011 country cooperation strategy. The main focus of the strategy is to improve the Liberian healthcare sector, improving quality and increasing access to healthcare facilities for Liberian citizens.
Liberian citizens are provided with free basic healthcare through public run healthcare facilities, but are required to make financial payment towards any complicated medical procedures. The majority of public hospitals run low on medical supplies and posses minimal equipment. There are private healthcare facilities available in Liberia, but these are still inadequate for providing quality healthcare. When Liberians are required to pay or contribute towards medical treatment, it poses a problem as many live on less the US$1 a day.
In 2007, Liberia's health sector infrastructure consisted of 250 healthcare facilities (including hospitals, medical clinics and health centres). However, the majority of healthcare facilities were left severely damaged on account of the civil war. In the 2007-2011 period, Liberia’s country cooperation strategy planned for an estimated 80% of the healthcare facilities to be restored. Non-government organizations (NGO's) also play a major role in delivering health services in Liberia. Organizations such as the British Red Cross are present in Liberia providing needy Liberian citizens with basic medical care at the community level across the country.
As a result of the civil war, Liberia suffered from the brain drain effect, losing large numbers of skilled and educated Liberians - who sought careers overseas. This is now impacting the Liberian healthcare sector today, with a lack of trained medical professionals in healthcare facilities across the country. This means vulnerable Liberians do not always receive medical treatment by a doctor who is competent and experienced.
In 2008, only 41% of Liberian citizens had any access to health services in the country. However, there is some evidence of improvements being made in recent years with major improvements in infant and under-five mortality rates together with significant improvements in maternal mortality rates. However, significant improvements to the whole Liberian healthcare system are needed to raise standards of care and preventative treatments, which the MOHSW is aiming to deliver.
It clear that the loss of financial funding and large scale destruction over a 14 year period has truly taken its toll on this country’s once vibrant, prosperous economy, which is clearly evident today in the Liberian health care sector. Currently Liberia has the fifth worst life expectancy rate averaging just 41.84 years of age from birth. This is due to a combination of factors - high infant mortality rates, prevalence of HIV/AIDS, widespread infectious diseases, lack of access to water / latrines, low immunization programmes and inadequate healthcare facilities to carry out treatment to combat these problems.
The Liberian healthcare sector is inadequate to meet anything other than basic medical needs. There is a lack of qualified medical professionals, medical supplies are scarce, there is no effective accident & emergency medical services, no ambulatory services and blood supplies are unreliable with blood transfusions being unsafe. In a case of medical emergency a foreign national will need to be medically air-lifted to the nearest country which can provide a medical center of excellence. It is necessary to ensure you take out international health insurance for Liberia, including air ambulance services, as this will be required in a medical case which requires quality healthcare services.
If you are either a short term visitor or expatriate in Liberia, ensure you have the necessary international health insurance cover for Liberia, to give you fully medical coverage from any unforeseen accidents which may occur while in the country. It is important to take out a policy that covers medical air ambulance services, as if you do experience medical problems when in Liberia, it is very likely you will need to be air lifted to hospitals in Europe or South Africa, which are medically equipped to meet your needs.
As a foreign national in Liberia, you will find the country's healthcare system chronically under-developed and very inadequate to handle medical procedures, with inadequate medical supplies. It is recommended that you bring your own medical pack, as even basic pharmaceutical supplies are rare in Liberia. Liberia is also blighted with numerous water borne and vector borne diseases, such as malaria, yellow fever and typhoid fever, it is therefore prudent to consult a doctor prior to your visit to Liberia, to ensure all vaccination are up-to-date, and all health preventative measures are in place, lowering the risk of contracting a serious illnesses.
Travelers with pre-existing medical conditions are advised to take an ample supply of medicines for the duration of your stay in Liberia, as it is seldom a patient can acquire modern western medicines in Liberia.
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Liberia International Health Insurance |
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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 traveling to Liberia, international medical insurance plans will be the optimal solution for you. Plans can be tailored-made to give you flexibility, meet your individual needs, and may include benefits such as travel, maternity, dental and many other conditions. Should you require further information on Liberia, global medical insurance, or to receive a free consultation, please do not hesitate to call one of our expert advisers now.
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