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

How does the healthcare system work in Botswana?

The best of Botswana: elephants, diamonds and safaris. Unfortunately, healthcare is not yet included in this list. Healthcare is reasonable, but there is still room for improvement.
Healthcare in Botswana is improving, but is still lagging behind the EU and South Africa, for example. With the growth of the number of expats in the country, healthcare will probably also improve.
The majority of healthcare facilities are public (around 98%), but there are also private healthcare facilities.
For more than 95% of residents, there is a health centre within 8 km of their home.
The best healthcare can be found in urban areas, especially in Gaborone and Francistown.
In general, people in Botswana speak good English, but if you live in a remote area, it is useful to learn some Setswana to explain your medical problems. It is quicker than hand and foot work.
Call 997 in case of a medical emergency. Ambulances and air ambulances are available.

Botswana has a universal healthcare system - free healthcare for all residents. This includes maternity care, HIV/AIDS treatment and vaccinations. Expats usually pay a fee for care of around 70 USD.
Doctors are well trained and the quality of care is improving, but challenges remain. For example, there are long waiting times and shortages of money.
There are also some medical clinics that exaggerate their expertise and talk about it, but not really. So always check whether your clinic has the right papers and experience.
Finding specialist care is difficult.

Private healthcare in the big cities is much better in quality and more efficient than public healthcare. For this reason, many foreigners choose the private sector.
Outside the big cities there are sometimes mobile clinics, but the care is much more limited. Doctors have often completed their training abroad and can provide good care. The facilities are also relatively up-to-date.
Gaborone and Francistown have good private hospitals.
Private care is quite expensive in Botswana, so it is important to have good insurance.
You often have to pay cash, and sometimes you even have to prove that you have health insurance.

Certainly in Gaborone and Francistown you can find GPs, although they are not as common as in western countries.

Most mothers-to-be opt for pregnancy and maternity care in the private sector. The quality of care is good here, fairly comparable to western countries, and it is easy to find English-speaking doctors. In Gaborone in particular, but also in other large cities, there are good doctors who can supervise pregnancies.
Public healthcare often has fewer facilities and waiting times are longer.

What should you pay attention to in terms of safety in Botswana?
In general, Botswana is a pleasant and safe country to live in, but crime does occur.
Risk areas are Gaborone, Francistown and Maun. Petty crime and house and car burglaries occur more often here.
Another, fairly unique, danger is wildlife. Always watch out for wild animals, especially if you are driving yourself.
It is safer to go to townships with someone who knows the area.

In parts of Botswana you run the risk of malaria. So protect yourself well against mosquitoes and discuss the risks with a vaccination doctor.
The country has one of the highest percentages of HIV/AIDS.
Are you going into the bushes? Then you can also get bitten by a tick.
Dogs also bite and can have rabies. If you are bitten, wash the wound well and seek medical help immediately.
Drink enough and use sunscreen, the last thing you want is to faint, just after you have spotted that big elephant!

Most people prefer using their own car, or hire a driver, because public transport outside the cities is not really your thing.
The roads in cities are usually of good quality, but if you go outside the city, it quickly becomes worse.
Don't always expect predictable driving behavior! Drivers sometimes like to drive chaotically, aggressively and recklessly...
There are many traffic accidents. The main causes are drunk drivers and people who drive too fast.
Avoid driving at night, especially in areas with poor street lighting. Something or someone could jump out onto the road!
Keep the car doors and windows locked, especially at night!
Public transport is cheap and limited. You can use public buses and “combis” (shared vans).

Is the trip to Botswana 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.

To cover the high costs of private healthcare in Botswana, good international health insurance is very important. Also make sure that such insurance covers medical evacuation and repatriation.
Read more about insurances for abroad on Expatinsurances.org.

Access:

Public

Check related region !