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

How does the healthcare system work in Guinea-Bissau?

What is the quality of healthcare in Guinea-Bissau?

• There is officially a public healthcare system, but it suffers from chronic shortages of money, staff, and resources.
• Most care is in practice provided by NGOs, international organizations (such as WHO and Médecins Sans Frontières), and missionary hospitals.
• The majority of the population lives more than 5 km away from the nearest health clinic – quite a distance without a car when you’re sick.
• Most healthcare is concentrated in Bissau.
• Payment is often out-of-pocket. Even in public institutions, you usually have to pay for medicines, bandages, or even a bed.
• There are hardly any pharmacies in Guinea-Bissau and medicines are limited.
• A good travel insurance with medical coverage and repatriation is therefore not a luxury but an absolute necessity. For immediate medical help, evacuation is needed. The closest option is Dakar.

How does the public healthcare system work in Guinea-Bissau?

• Public hospitals exist, but they are often poorly equipped and overcrowded.
• Expect long waiting times, staff shortages, and sometimes no electricity or running water.
• In rural areas, healthcare is virtually nonexistent. Sometimes you have to travel for hours by boat or dirt road before you find a doctor.

How does the private healthcare system work in Guinea-Bissau?

• In the capital Bissau, you will find some private clinics. These are often better equipped but still very limited and also expensive.
• Quality varies greatly; it can range from a doctor with a stethoscope to a small clinic with an ultrasound machine.
• For serious issues, it is advised to go abroad – for example, to Senegal or Portugal.

How is the general practitioner arranged in Guinea-Bissau?

• There is no traditional general practitioner system like in Europe.
• You go directly to a hospital or clinic if you have a problem.
• For minor ailments, many people rely on the pharmacy or on traditional healers.

How is the dentist arranged in Guinea-Bissau?

• Dental care is limited and usually only available in Bissau.
• Don’t expect hypermodern chairs or X-rays.
• For serious problems, it is often wiser to go to a neighboring country.

How is pregnancy care arranged in Guinea-Bissau?

• Maternity care does exist, but it is very limited and strongly dependent on NGO projects.
• Giving birth in a hospital is not always a given; many women deliver at home or with the help of traditional midwives.
• Child and maternal mortality rates are among the highest in the world. For expats or travelers, it is strongly advised to plan pregnancy and delivery elsewhere (for example in Senegal or your home country).

How safe or unsafe is a trip or stay in Guinea-Bissau?

What should you pay attention to in terms of safety in Guinea-Bissau?

• Political instability is common – coups d'état are not uncommon here.
• Crime is prevalent in Bissau, including petty theft and car hijackings.
• Travel to the border region with Senegal is not recommended.
• Inland, you may encounter poor infrastructure, making travel more risky.

What should you look out for in terms of diseases in Guinea-Bissau?

• Malaria is endemic here – mosquito repellent and a mosquito net are essential.
• Hepatitis, cholera, and other tropical diseases are common.
• Drinking water is unreliable: always boil or use bottled water.

What should you pay attention to when it comes to traffic in Guinea-Bissau?

• Roads are often poorly maintained or simply dirt tracks.
• During the rainy season, roads turn into mud puddles.
• Public transport consists mainly of borrowed vans and taxis, sometimes held together with duct tape. Boat trips (for example to the Bissagos Islands) are adventurous, but often unsafe due to maintenance and overcrowding. It is not recommended to travel to the islands with pirogues (small, narrow canoes).

What work and travel insurance policies are suitable for short and long stays in Guinea-Bissau?

• Is the trip to Guinea-Bissau 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.

What emigration and expat insurance can you take out for Guinea-Bissau if you are going to live there for a while?

• When applying for your visa, you are usually required to be able to prove that you have valid health insurance.
• If you have private insurance, you can choose your own doctor in Guinea-Bissau.
• Read more about insurances for abroad on Expatinsurances.org.