 |
|
|
|
| |
Swaziland International Health Insurance / Healthcare System
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 Swaziland is a
country located in the southern region of Africa, situated south
of Mozambique and engulfed by the northeastern border of South
Africa. Swaziland has an area of 17,363 square kilometers and a
population of approximately 1.17 million people. 75 percent of
Swaziland's population live in rural areas with the remaining
confined to major cities including the capital Mbabane and
Manzini.
Almost 30 percent of people in Swaziland are living in extreme
poverty, and around 26 percent in the 15 to 49 age bracket live
with HIV/AIDS. However, because Swaziland is officially classified
as a middle income country, international funding is in turn
limited. In 2004, the Swaziland Government had announced a number
of humanitarian crises listing HIV/AIDS, poverty, drought and land
degradation as the main factors contributing to the country’s
currently tenuous position.
Swaziland's public health care system is weakened by a number of
factors resulting from lack of healthcare funding. Critical
shortages in the public health care sector result in overcrowded
facilities and a large number of patients forced to resort to home
care. There are approximately 122 doctors per 100,000 people, a 50
percent shortage compared to developed countries. Public hospitals
in Swaziland lack basic resources such as surgical gowns, gloves,
trolleys and medical equipment necessary to perform certain
procedures, such as caesarians. Swaziland lacks training
facilities for allied health personnel, and as such there is
difficulty recruiting laboratory, radiology and rehabilitation
staff from overseas to provide a wider range of diagnostic and
health care services for the Swaziland population. Swaziland has a
poor health management information system and is unable to
efficiently collect, manage and analyze health data; making it
difficult to respond and manage outbreaks in a timely manner.
Together, these factors have contributed to Swaziland having the
highest prevalence of HIV/AIDS worldwide.
Swaziland's health care system consists of public and private
health care facilities, as well as traditional based medicine
offered by community healers and physicians. The public health
care sector is administered by the Ministry of Health and Social
Welfare, providing an efficient number of health care facilities
in the country. Public health care facilities are spread out
throughout Swaziland; around 80 percent of the population is
located within 8 kilometers from a healthcare facility and 63
percent are able to access a facility within one hour. Although
access to health care is adequate, limited healthcare personnel
and resources make it virtually impossible to efficiently
administer quality healthcare services.
The first level of health care in Swaziland is provided by health
clinics, where primary health care, family planning and
vaccination services are available. Outpatient services, dental,
basic inpatient, and minor surgery is provided by health centers
and public health units; staffed by regional medical officers and
nurses. Hospitals in Swaziland provide emergency, inpatient,
outpatient, maternity, and some specialty services. Patients who
can afford it are referred to South Africa where a higher level of
medical care is available. The Ministry of Health has also
distributed 4000 'rural health motivators' to increase health
education and basic healthcare services among the rural
population, focusing on HIV/AIDS and malaria prevention. Rural
health motivators are employed by the state and are typically
provided with ten weeks medical training.
The private health care system provides the highest standard of
health care services in Swaziland. With increased funding, private
health care facilities are able to staff an efficient number of
doctors, provide more equipment and a wider range of healthcare
services. Almost 50 percent of doctors in Swaziland are provided
by the private sector, employed mainly in private health centers,
hospitals and smaller health clinics that are attached to hotels
in Swaziland. There are over 100 private health clinics in
Swaziland that are based in Manzini, Mbabane, Nhlangano, Matsapha,
Big Bend, Siteki, Simunyi, and Mhlume. There are three private
hospitals in Swaziland, all which are located in the capital
Manzini. The Manzini Clinic Private Hospital provides a large
range of services including emergency, diagnostic, CT scan and
X-rays, general surgery, ophthalmology, dentistry, maternity,
gynecology, ear nose and throat, and psychology. The Mbabane
Government Hospital is the main referral hospital within the
public health sector. Other large public hospitals in Swaziland
include the Manzini Clinic, Mbabane Clinic, Hlatikulu Government
Hospital, the Mankayane Government Hospital, and the Pigg's Peak
Government Hospital. While Swaziland’s private medical facilities
are able to offer higher standards of care than the public
options, expatriates in the country should be aware that the
country’s private medical services will cost significantly more to
access than public treatment options. We recommend that all
expatriates in Swaziland purchase a comprehensive international
health insurance policy with an emergency evacuation benefit prior
to their arrival in order to ensure that they will be able to
access quality healthcare when they need it.
HIV/AIDS has affected the development of Swaziland. Due to the
HIV/AIDS situation in Swaziland, the country has one of the lowest
life expectancy rates in the world, along with a high number of
orphaned children. With a high number of HIV cases among the 15 to
49 age group, 39 percent of the population is under 14 and
approximately 40 percent of the population is unemployed. Together
these factors largely affect Swaziland's economic growth and place
a large burden on the health care and social welfare system;
hindering potential development in the country. Barriers to
controlling the HIV/AIDS epidemic include education on prevention,
HIV/AIDS stigma in the community, and lack of health care
personnel and resources to adequately provide treatment and
screening services across the population. Today there are
campaigns that are promoting health education including condom
use, transmission among mother to child transmission, and changing
behaviors to reduce the HIV/AIDS stigma. As a result of the
HIV/AIDS weakening the immune system, tuberculosis is now highly
prevalent in Swaziland; placing a further burden on the country's
health system.
All those entering Swaziland must be vaccinated against yellow
fever. It is also recommended that vaccinations are taken to
protect against hepatitis A, meningitis, tetanus, hepatitis B,
typhoid, and rabies. Quality of water varies throughout Swaziland.
Approximately 92 percent of the urban population have improved
water sources, compared to 61 percent of the rural population. As
such, expats and travelers in Swaziland should follow strict
hygiene and sanitation methods to avoid gastrointestinal
infections which are highly prevalent in the country. Hands should
be washed before handling food and after using the toilet. Bottled
water should be used for drinking and fruit and vegetables should
be washed thoroughly with sterilized water. Travelers with
persistent symptoms of diarrhea should seek immediate medical
attention.
Travelers and expats living in countries where health care
services are limited, are strongly advised to obtain a
comprehensive insurance policy that includes coverage for
emergency evacuation and hospitals overseas. Many patients in
Swaziland are evacuated to South Africa due to the limited medical
services that Swaziland can provide. South Africa has state of the
art medical facilities, however the costs associated are highly
expensive. As such, a comprehensive health insurance plan is
highly recommended to ensure you are provided with the high level
of health care you require in the event of an accident or illness.
Emergency protocols should be adopted by expats living in
Swaziland in the event of a serious accident, illness or criminal
event. The emergency contact number in Swaziland is 9-9-9 for
police and medical services. However it is important to note that
emergency response is very limited and virtually non existent in
Swaziland.
Emergency evacuation services can be made available to Swaziland
by contacting the International SOS alarm Center in Johannesburg
on +27(0)11 541 1300, where highly trained staff can provide
instructions.
|
|
Swaziland International Health Insurance |
| |
At Globalsurance, we can help you find an appropriate
International Health Insurance policy to fit your needs, with
optional benefits including outpatient care, maternity, dental and
more. For more information about Swaziland international health insurance plans, or to receive a free International Health Insurance Quote,
please contact one of our dedicated advisers today.
|
|
|
|
|
