How does healthcare work in Haiti, and what travel insurance, health insurance or expat insurance do you need?

How does the healthcare system work in Haiti?

Health care in Haiti is of poor quality and is deteriorating. This is mainly due to problems with crime and natural disasters such as earthquakes and hurricanes.
There is both public and private care available, but both leave much to be desired.
There is no good ambulance service, but you can try by calling 116. Many people who become seriously ill in Haiti have to be evacuated to the US.

There are many problems in public health care in Haiti. For example, there is often a shortage of staff, long waiting times and substandard medical equipment.
Public hospitals provide basic care, but it is usually not of good quality.
A language barrier can be a problem for foreigners seeking care at a public health facility.
Most foreigners and wealthy Haitians avoid public care and opt for private institutions.

In private hospitals you can expect better care, more staff and more options. However, private hospitals can also be difficult to reach.
Often, people speak multiple languages in private hospitals, so you don't have to deal with a language barrier.

In Haiti, you can go to an internist, general practitioner or so-called family doctor for basic care. Half of the doctors that work in the country are general practitioners without specialization.
You will get the best care at private clinics. It can be useful to ask other expats for advice on a good general practitioner.

There is dental care in Haiti, but access to dental care is quite limited. There is approximately 1 dentist per 10,000 inhabitants... that's a large client base!
Most dental practices can be found in the capital. In the countryside, dental care is virtually non existent.
For this reason, there are many initiatives from dentists from other countries to provide dental care in Haiti.

Haiti has the highest maternal mortality rate of any country in the Western Hemisphere. About 1 in 80 women die during childbirth.
In rural areas, women often do not have access to prenatal care due to poor infrastructure. Only 54% of pregnant women receive the necessary four prenatal appointments.
Home births are common. On average, 70% of births take place at home without a healthcare professional present.
In Haiti, they have traditional “Matwons”. These are women from the community who attend births. Unfortunately, they often do not have the right tools or knowledge for high-risk pregnancies.
The country has a huge shortage of healthcare professionals, including midwives. For example, there is only about one midwife available for every 1,000 births.
Training opportunities are also limited, meaning that many midwives and nurses are not properly trained in childbirth care.
In general, it is better to spend your pregnancy and delivery abroad. In Haiti, you are not guaranteed good guidance or the necessary resources for high-risk pregnancies.

Crime is a major problem in Haiti and sometimes the country shuts down and travel is difficult.
There are regular protests that can get out of hand. It is therefore wise to stay away from these.
Violent crime is common. There is a risk of kidnapping, murder, robbery, sexual violence and car hijacking. The risks are greatest in the evening and in remote areas.
Violence from certain gangs is most intense in Port-au-Prince. Kidnappings occur, not only of locals , but also of foreigners.
There are regular power outages in the country. There are also often shortages of facilities such as water, food and fuel.

Infectious diseases and mosquito-borne diseases are common in Haiti. Due to the state of health care, it is important to try to prevent these types of diseases.
Zika, dengue and malaria are among the diseases that occur in Haiti. So make sure you protect yourself against mosquitoes.
Cholera outbreaks are common. Cholera is spread through water and food. Make sure you only drink bottled water and eat safely prepared food.
HIV/AIDS is relatively common. Be aware of this!

Driving in Haiti can be quite chaotic. The roads are in poor condition, or almost non-existent, and the traffic consists of people and various animals in addition to cars. Most foreigners choose to hire a driver.
Driving with alcohol in your system is prohibited, but many locals do it anyway. This can cause dangerous situations, especially in the evening.
In the cities, traffic can stand still for a long time, which can spread further. So make sure you always have enough water and something to snack on you.
Public transport mainly consists of “tap-taps”. These are a kind of small, colorful, open buses. And although they look attractive, traveling with them is not recommended. In the event of an accident, you can easily be thrown out of the bus and the tap-taps are also an easy target for kidnapping.

Is the trip to and your return sufficiently covered? Are you sufficiently covered before, during and after your activities? Which insurance best suits your trip and your activity? Read more about insurances for abroad on JoHoinsurances.org.

International health insurance with medical evacuation coverage is an absolute must for Haiti.
So make sure your insurance covers medical evacuation as well as coverage in neighboring countries. Read more about insurances for abroad on Expatinsurances.org.

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