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

How does the healthcare system work in Yemen?

There is no well-functioning healthcare system in Yemen. Yemen is a country with many risks, political instability and corruption. Due to the threats, little money and attention is paid to healthcare. The country has one of the least developed healthcare systems in the world.
This is also reflected in the health indicators. For example, the country has a very low life expectancy and only 25% of people in rural areas have access to healthcare.
There is limited access to healthcare in Yemen, especially in rural areas. Healthcare is provided through NGOs, profit-making companies and centres for traditional medicines.
There are often power outages in Yemen and hospitals (both private and private) are not always equipped for this.
Ambulance services are often substandard and inaccessible. So don't count on this.
If something happens in Yemen, there is a good chance that medical evacuation will be necessary. Good, international health insurance that provides coverage in conflict countries such as Yemen is therefore an absolute must.

The public health care system is run by the Ministry of Public Health and Population.
Unfortunately, there are many things wrong with the public health care system in Yemen. For example, the quality of care is low, there are shortages of medicines, there is no working referral system and there is hardly any financing. There is also a large personal contribution for receiving care.
Due to the conflict situation in the country, the care is very overloaded.

The private health care system is a lot larger than the public health care system in Yemen and amounts to about 70% of the care in the country. Unfortunately, many private health care institutions have also been damaged or closed due to the conflict situation.
You will find the private institutions mainly in Sana’a and Aden.
The quality of private care is better than that of public care, but still not of the same standards as in Europe, for example. The care is a lot cheaper.
Most wealthy Yemenis and foreigners opt for private care, but even more often for care abroad.

Yemen does not have a well-developed general practice system like some other countries. Patients often seek specialist care directly in hospitals or clinics, which leads to overload of these institutions.

Dental care is limited and is mainly provided in urban areas.
The quality of care varies greatly, and many dental practices experience a shortage of materials and equipment.

Yemen has one of the highest birth rates in the world, with an average of 5 children. Unfortunately, the child and maternal mortality rates in the country are also very high.
Maternity care has been severely affected by the conflict, with many pregnant women having little access to prenatal care.
Care is offered by humanitarian organisations, but unfortunately this is not sufficient.
A pregnancy and delivery in Yemen as a foreigner (but unfortunately also as a local) is not a good idea due to the state of healthcare.

Yemen has been at war since 2015, making it an extremely unsafe country, but you probably already knew this if you are on this page...
There is a high risk of terrorist attacks, kidnappings and arbitrary arrests. In addition, there are armed incidents and crime is increasing.
Every day there are fights between different parties such as radical extremists and foreign terrorists.

The people in Yemen are suffering from the war, which has many consequences for public health.
The majority of children under the age of five are severely malnourished, infectious diseases are increasing due to the low vaccination rate and insect-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue and leishmaniasis are also common.
Altitude sickness can be a problem in the Sana'a region. So pay close attention to symptoms such as nausea, headaches, fatigue.
Severe outbreaks of infectious diseases occur, such as cholera, typhoid, tuberculosis, rabies, etc. Avoid drinking tap water, ice cubes and raw food.

Participating in traffic in Yemen is quite dangerous, partly due to the conflict situation. Many foreigners living in Yemen (often embassy staff) are transported in armoured cars.
Driving is chaotic because traffic rules are hardly observed and many roads are damaged or impassable. There are also many drivers without a valid driver's license and the road participants consist of suddenly crossing all sorts of things.
The government sometimes prohibits foreigners from traveling outside Sana'a.
It is also important to be aware of the mines that are still in the country. It is therefore not recommended to deviate from the beaten track, especially in the south and the central highlands. Public transport is also not really an option for foreigners because it is very limited and unreliable, especially outside the cities.
There are many taxis, but they are often not safe and there have been several cases of sexual harassment reported by Western women who took a taxi.

Is the trip to Yemen 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.

Going to Yemen without good health insurance is not an option. A lot can happen and there is a good chance that you will need a medical evacuation. It is important to check whether your health insurance offers coverage in Yemen for such matters.
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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