Equatorial Guinea Health Insurance

Feeling comfortable in the knowledge that if something was to happen to a family member their medical costs will be taken care of, is important to us all. Our expert consultants can advise on the most suitable level of coverage for families, individuals, groups, travelers, and teachers expatriate health insurance.

Expatriate Health Insurance Equatorial Guinea

Pacific Prime is an expatriate insurance broker specialising in providing overseas medical insurance for Equatorial Guinea nationals living, working or holidaying abroad. If you are a non Equatorial Guinea national and moving to Equatorial Guinea we can also provide plans that meet your specific requirements.

Professional Service you can trust

Pacific Prime Insurance will be with you for the duration of your policy. We offer additional customer services that include claims advice, emergency contact numbers and medical advice lines. We also maintain a comprehensive list of Equatorial Guinea hospitals/doctors. Most of our clients are expatriates so we maintain a list of Embassies in Equatorial Guinea.

As a leading broker of medical insurance in Equatorial Guinea we keep up on the latest insurance trends and Equatorial Guinea Insurance News.

We can offer expatriates in Equatorial Guinea dedicated international health insurance plans that will provide comprehensive coverage in the East and around the world. Plans that we can offer will usually have a number of benefits that a policyholder is able to tailor to suit their specific requirements. With coverage options including out-patient, dental, maternity, and emergency evacuation, you will be assured of receiving the highest levels of quality treatment anywhere in the world.

Equatorial Guinea Medical Insurance

The Republic of Equatorial Guinea, located in the central west coast of Africa, adjacent to Cameroon and Gabon and facing the Gulf of Guinea. Due to its colonial past, French and Spanish are both official languages (and there has been a movement to add Portuguese), while native local languages Fang, Bube and Annobonese are also widely spoken. Beaches, jungles and other natural beauty abound. One of the smallest countries in Africa, both in geographical size and population, Equatorial Guinea is also one of the wealthiest, although it is marked by extreme income inequality and is widely regarded as one of the most corrupt countries in the world by several independent observers.

Environmentally speaking, Equatorial Guinea’s geographic position means that its climate is tropical with wet and dry seasons. Hence, the region is prone to outbreaks of diseases common to the region, such as malaria and dengue. Political unrest has been rampant ever since independence from Spain in 1968, with Margaret Thatcher’s son Dennis famously involved in a coup attempt in 2004. Oil production dominates the economy, with forestry, fishing and subsistence agriculture making up a significant portion of the workforce. Migrant workers involved in the oil industry may also be prone to spreading diseases not indigenous to the region.

Despite its geographical and climatic disadvantages, Equatorial Guinea has had considerable success in combating malaria. The government program was correlated with a 64 percent reduction in overall mortality in the population under five years old. Overall, Equatorial Guinea’s health care is extremely poor, even by the low standards of the poverty-stricken region, in spite of relatively high GDP per capita of around USD16,620. Life expectancy at birth is only 46 for males and 47 for females, as health care spending per capita is only about USD280; this is actually about three times the regional average, although it only comprises 1.5 percent of Equatorial Guinea’s GDP. Although the number of physicians per capita is slightly higher than the regional average, at 3.0 per 10,000 people, it is insufficient to treat the local population; and its 5.4 nurses and midwives per 10,000 people is less than half of the regional average, which represents a serious shortfall.

By dint of its relative wealth, Equatorial Guinea has had some success in limiting tuberculosis (63 per 100,000 people) and HIV / AIDS (34 per 1,000 adults), both of which are significantly below regional averages. Still, less than half of the population have access to improved drinking water and improved sanitation facilities, according to the World Health Organisation.

Due to wide income inequality in Equatorial Guinea, access to health care is very uneven among the populace. Government spending makes up nearly 82 percent of total health expenditure (THE), while nearly all of private expenditure is paid out of pocket, as there is little infrastructure to support a modern health insurance system as seen in more developed countries. Support from external organizations makes up a very small proportion of THE, totaling around 3 percent.

Travelers to Equatorial Guinea should visit a physician or clinic specialising in travel medicine before embarking on their trip. At minimum, routine vaccinations should be updated. These include: measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus (DPT), polio, hepatitis A and B, typhoid and rabies. Yellow fever vaccination is also highly recommended, and proof of vaccination is required from travelers coming from countries where the disease is present.

The entire country is prone to outbreaks of malaria; proper precautions should be taken. These include: taking antimalarial drugs (these should be bought before traveling to Equatorial Guinea), using insect repellent with DEET, wearing long-sleeved clothing and using mosquito nets while sleeping. A travel physician can advise on which antimalarial drugs are suitable, but bear in mind that chloroquine is not effective in treating malaria in Equatorial Guinea and that halofantrine should only be used in emergencies when no other treatment is available.

Other insect-borne diseases such as filariasis, leishmaniasis, and onchocerciasis (river blindness) and African trypanosomiasis (African sleeping sickness), as well as parasitic diseases like schistosomiasis are common to the region, and even the plague is not unheard of. There have also been outbreaks of avian flu and typhoid, as well as tuberculosis and HIV. Water filters and purification tablets, iodine pills, sunscreen lotion, latex condoms, anti-diarrhea pills and alcohol-based hand sanitiser are also recommended to limit exposure to disease.

Pre-travel vaccinations and other health care preparations are strongly advised before visiting Equatorial Guinea. Despite its wealth the country’s local health care resources may vary widely in quality depending on the area. Extra precautions must be made before making a trip. The country has no native private health insurance system to speak of, so arrangements should be made before any travel to Equatorial Guinea. Emergency evacuation is usually required for any situation requiring serious medical attention in the country which can end up being very expensive, therefore appropriate insurance cover and other arrangements should be put in place in advance. Furthermore, the country remains politically unstable, with armed coups quite common, so planning for evacuation contingencies is of even greater importance.

If you are planning any travel to Equatorial Guinea, Pacific Prime is here to help you with any international travel health insurance needs. We have experienced teams worldwide and would be delighted to provide a no-cost consultation at any time on available insurance options are available, whether you are traveling alone, with your family or with a tour group. We offer policies covering a wide range of medical services including: dental, maternity, specialist consultation, transportation, inpatient services and more. Please contact a Pacific Prime adviser for further details and a free consultation.