Known as the home of the fascinating Dead Sea which houses many archeological monuments, Jordan is the perfect destination for history buffs and adventurous expats alike. However, healthcare is still on top of the list of concerns for expats when relocating to this Middle Eastern country.
When it comes to healthcare, the Jordanian government has been investing large sums of money to increase healthcare accessibility and quality in the country. This guide by Pacific Prime will inform you of all the healthcare facts you need to know before moving or traveling to Jordan, including the state of the country’s healthcare system, private hospitals in Jordan, and recommended vaccinations.
Healthcare in Jordan
Since 1999, the Kingdom of Jordan has been redeveloping its economy in an attempt to establish itself as a first-world country. This redevelopment has lead to a number of changes throughout the country, which are still ongoing, and has meant that the Jordanian population is beginning to experience a much higher standard of living than ever before. One sector that is benefiting enormously from the revitalization of the Jordanian economy is the healthcare industry.
Healthcare reform
One of the major concerns that many foreign nationals have in regards to staying or relocating to Jordan is the state of the nation's healthcare system. Nevertheless, the government has been increasing its spending on healthcare over the years. These are the key health care spending facts you should know:
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Total health care expenditure in 2012, as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP), was 7.58%, with over 60% of the spending in the public sector.
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Direct out-of-pocket health spending by citizens accounted for about 25% of total health spending.
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The proportion of spending on medicines was about one-fourth of health care spending and constituted 2% of GDP.
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For a middle-income country with a small elderly population (<5%), this level of expenditure on medicines is considered high. For example, for the same year, expenditures on medicines in the European Union represented 1.6% of GDP.
Despite the high costs associated with the country's best hospitals and clinics, Jordan has proven that it has much to offer in the way of healthcare services. With a number of new state-of-the-art hospitals under construction, Jordan is proving to the world that it is looking towards the next generation of medical technology and treatment, and covering the needs of not only its own citizens but the entire Middle East region.
Let’s have a look at some facts on Jordan’s medical infrastructure:
- There are a total of 106 private and public hospitals in Jordan, providing 12,081 beds.
- The public sector accounts for the majority of these hospital beds (67%), with the remainder being provided by private hospitals.
- In Jordan, the hospital bed rate of about 18 beds per 10,000 people is higher than the bed rates in several other Arab countries in the region but lower than the global rate.
Challenge - accessibility
Despite these recent improvements in Jordan's healthcare sector, the fact remains that the quality of care at many public hospitals and clinics in Jordan is woefully low. Meanwhile, the accessibility of quality private hospitals outside Amman remains low.
If you are outside the city, the most widely available healthcare service are pharmacies. In Jordan, there are over 2,500 pharmacies stationed throughout the country.
Unfortunately, these pharmacies are only focused on medication dispensing and inventory control, with rarely any patient counseling service available.
Vaccinations
As a desert country with a developing economy, there are various diseases prevalent that you may not find at home. These diseases include complications related to dehydration and typhoid, as well as hepatitis B, tuberculosis, Aids, and Malaria.
The CDC and WHO recommend the following vaccinations for Jordan:
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Typhoid
- Yellow fever
- Rabies
- Anthrax
- Meningitis
- Polio
- Measles
- Pneumonia and influenza.
Health insurance in Jordan
As it stands now, Jordan may be able to offer you high-quality services that you deserve, but these services will come at a high cost and may not always be accessible.
The only way to truly protect yourself and your loved ones while overseas is with a quality international expat health insurance plan.
This is where Pacific Prime comes in. As a global insurance brokerage, we are able to offer you offer professional advice at no cost. No matter what your budget is or what your requirements are, our professional consultants can help find a policy that fits you or your group. Our private health insurance policies can cover a wide range of services including dental, maternity, expat health insurance, and many more. Please contact us today for a free consultation or click the button below for a no-obligation, free quote.
