Swaziland Health Insurance
This short guide provides information about healthcare and health insurance in Swaziland for those planning to move or travel to Swaziland. Read on to learn more, or click below to obtain a no-obligation, free quote.
About Swaziland
Swaziland, officially the Kingdom of Eswatini, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. Swaziland is a monarchy, with the king being the head of the country and Senate and House of Assembly elections being held every five years. The Kingdom of Eswatini is a country with a small economy and considered a country with low to middle income.
Health in Swaziland
The Swazi population faces major health issues, mainly HIV/AIDS. It is estimated that 26% of the adult population is HIV-positive. As of 2018, Eswatini has the 12th-lowest life expectancy in the world, at 58 years. The population of Eswatini is young, with a median age of 20.5 years and people aged 14 years or younger constituting 37.5% of the country's total population. Road traffic accidents have increased over the years and they form a significant share of deaths in the country. Furthermore, Tuberculosis remains a significant problem.
Swaziland healthcare system
Despite significant international aid, the government fails to adequately fund the health sector. Primary healthcare is relatively free in Eswatini but its poor quality doesn't meet the needs of the people. Swazis have access to government-subsidized health services yet most people still need to pay out-of-pocket for these services. As much as 41.7 percent of citizens also opt to pay for private healthcare instead.
The Swazi public healthcare system is administered centrally. The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MoHSW) is in charge of the development of all health policies, regulations, laws, and standards. It is also responsible for making sure that the facilities within the system maintain these standards and follow these policies. The MoHSW, in cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO), is working on developing policies that focus on the development of more efficient management of resources.
Hospitals in Swaziland
Swaziland’s public health sector is made up of 6 Government hospitals, 2 Mission Hospitals and 5 health centres and about 200 smaller clinics across the country. However, most of these facilities do not have adequate supplies, medicine, and most importantly, personnel.
Hospitals in Swaziland provide emergency, inpatient, outpatient, maternity, and some speciality services. The health centres run at around 40-bed capacity and act as referral centres, while also providing outpatient and inpatient care, including dental and maternity care. Around 2,000 Rural Health Motivators, based in both urban and rural areas, complement these services by providing advice and care to the communities. Patients who can afford it are referred to South Africa where a higher level of medical care is available.
Swaziland private healthcare
In addition to the public sector, there are also private and traditional medical practitioners, which are both regulated by the government. The private healthcare system provides a higher standard of healthcare services than the public one in Swaziland. With increased funding, private healthcare facilities are able to staff an efficient number of doctors, provide more equipment and a wider range of healthcare services. Many of the private health centres, hospitals and smaller health clinics 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, Simonyi and Mhlume. There are three private hospitals in Swaziland, all of which are located in the capital Manzini.
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, and purchasing Swaziland private health insurance is highly recommended.
Swaziland travel and health insurance advice
Overall, the Swazi healthcare system and general health indicators are considered low. In addition to the HIV epidemic, widespread poverty, tuberculosis, other major health problems include bilharzia, typhoid, tapeworm, gastroenteritis, malaria, kwashiorkor, and pellagra.
Expatriates and visitors are able to use the public and private facilities, but immediate payment is often required. In addition, expect overcrowding, long lines, short consultation times, and outdated infrastructure, equipment, and staff training.
Travelers and expatriates to Swaziland should purchase an international health insurance policy before arriving in Swazi. Furthermore, it is highly recommended that travelers take out a policy that covers emergency evacuation and transportation costs. In the event that you are seriously injured, transportation costs can be as much as USD $100,000.
Travelers visiting the country should get vaccinated against yellow fever, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, rabies, tetanus-diphtheria, mumps, measles, rubella, and meningococcus. In addition, malaria is prevalent throughout Swaziland, so visitors need to carry anti-malarial medicine, sleep in bed nets, and use insect repellent.
Always bring adequate supplies of personal prescription medicine and a doctor’s note for these prescriptions. It is also recommended that travelers bring diarrhea medicine, as diarrhea is a common ailment of travelers in this part of the world.
Get Swaziland health insurance with Pacific Prime
Pacific Prime can assist you with obtaining Swaziland health insurance, or travel insurance should you decide to travel to Swaziland. We offer a wide variety of healthcare plans and travel insurance policies with possible benefit packages including dental, maternity, inpatient, outpatient, specialist consultations, and many more.
Please contact our professional advisors today for a free quote and free plan comparison before your trip to Swaziland.
