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

How does the healthcare system work in Mozambique?

Mozambique is a country with high poverty levels, as seen in the state of the (public) healthcare. As a result, many people suffer from diseases such as HIV/AIDS or infectious diseases like malaria and tuberculosis. Fortunately, the government is working hard to improve the healthcare system.
In Mozambique, public healthcare, private clinics, NGOs, and traditional healers all play a part in the healthcare systems.
There is a major difference in quality and access between urban areas (such as Maputo) and rural areas, where facilities, staff, and resources are often scarce.
Portuguese is the official language. In private clinics and among expats, English and local languages are also used.
Traditional medicine remain very important in many communities. Many families rely on traditional healers (the so called curandeiros), herbal medicine, and local remedies as a first step.
There are pharmacies (Farmácia) in the larger cities (Maputo, Beira). Pharmacies in cities usually have more stock, but even there, common medicines can be unavailable or expensive. In rural areas, this problem is often much worse.
There is an emergency number (117) for the national ambulance service, but it is not very reliable. In cities, private hospitals often have their own emergency numbers. In rural areas, evacuation by air is sometimes the only option in case of a medical emergency.

Public healthcare covers most medical services in the country and is run by the Ministry of Health. It is free for Mozambican citizens, but expats cannot use it.
Local health centers (“health centers”) provide basic services such as vaccinations, basic treatments, child healthcare, and simple emergency care.
District and regional hospitals can provide more complex care, perform surgeries, and offer inpatient care, but often struggle with long waiting times, shortages of resources, and limited staff.
Community health workers play an important role, especially in remote areas — they provide education, basic care, and referrals, and their role has expanded significantly in recent years.
Local communities frequently report shortages of medicines, poor hospital conditions, and a lack of electricity, clean water, or even basic hygiene in some clinics.

In Maputo and other major cities, there are private hospitals and clinics. These usually have foreign doctors, better facilities, improved hygiene, and English-speaking staff.
The private sector is essentially the only option for foreigners in Mozambique.
Private healthcare is more expensive and therefore also less accessible to most Mozambicans.
Maputo Private Hospital is the best-known private medical facility in the country.
Despite the generally higher standard of private care, wealthy locals and foreigners often travel to South Africa for specialist treatment.

There is no GP system. Foreigners usually visit a private clinic or hospital when they need medical attention.
In urban areas, you can find private doctors for routine care, but in rural areas they are hard to find.

There is a limited number of dental clinics, most of which are located in Maputo.
Some dental clinics in Maputo have relatively good care.
Specialized dentistry (e.g. implants, orthodontics) is scarce or unavailable. Expats and wealthy locals often travel abroad for advanced dental care.

Mozambique has made significant progress in maternal healthcare: more births now take place in medical facilities, which has helped reduce maternal mortality.
Many women attend prenatal check-ups, but quality varies widely. In rural areas, access is often difficult due to distance, transport costs, and a lack of clinics.
For high-risk pregnancies, complications, or premature births, specialized care is often limited, especially outside the major cities.
Traditional birth attendants still play a role in many areas, sometimes out of necessity, sometimes out of tradition.
Most maternity care is concentrated in Maputo, in private hospitals. However, not all hospitals provide maternity services.
Because of the health risks and the state of local healthcare, many foreigners choose to have their pregnancy and/or delivery abroad.

In some areas, especially in the north (Cabo Delgado), there are security issues such as armed conflict, kidnappings, and political instability.
Street crime, pickpocketing, and theft are common in cities, especially in crowded neighborhoods, markets, and poorly lit areas.
Political protests or unrest can occur unexpectedly; check and monitor official travel advisories and local news.

Mozambique has a high disease burden from infectious diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS.
Other risks include diarrhoeal diseases, parasitic infections, and problems related to drinking water and sanitation.
Tap water is therefore not safe to drink.

Roads can be in poor condition, especially outside urban areas; unpaved roads, lack of street lighting, mud, and river crossings during the rainy season are common.
Public transport is often unreliable: buses and minibuses are cheap but crowded, poorly maintained, and not very safe.
Night-time travel is not recommended in rural or remote areas.

Is the trip to Mozambique 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.

Private health insurance is not mandatory in Mozambique, but due to the high cost of private healthcare and the significant chance of needing medical evacuation or repatriation, it is absolutely essential.
If you have private insurance, you can choose your own doctor in Mozambique.
Read more about insurances for abroad on Expatinsurances.org.

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