Healthcare in Antigua and Barbuda: Hospitals and Health Insurance
Healthcare in Antigua and Barbuda
With a population of 92,000 in 2015, Antigua and Barbuda ranks 201st in the world by population and 205th by total area. The official language of Antigua and Barbuda is English. The currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar.
Antigua and Barbuda ranks 86th in world health ranking per WHO. In 2014, the total expenditure on health per person was $1,208, which is 5.5% of the GDP. Males have a life expectancy at birth of 74 years, and females can expect to live 79 years. There are 0.17 physicians per 1,000 people in Antigua and Barbuda as compared with 2.56 physicians per 1,000 people in the United States.
Hospitals in Antigua Barbuda
Antigua and Barbuda has three major medical facilities:
1) Mount St. John’s Medical Centre has 185 beds and provides services from primary care to advanced critical care
2) Adelin Medical Center (private non-profit) has 18 beds and handles moderate to severe surgery and gynecological care
3) Hannah Thomas Hospital has 8 beds and handles minor to moderate surgeries, mainly outpatient.
Other facilities include Fiennes Institute (100 beds) for the elderly, and Clarevue Psychiatric Hospital (150 beds). There are also 26 community health clinics located throughout the country (within 3 km of every major community) to deliver primary care and vaccinations to citizens and residents. The private sector offers numerous private doctor offices, labs, and pharmacies; these have almost no government regulation.
Health Insurance in Antigua Barbuda
The Ministry of Health is responsible for the national Medical Benefits Scheme, which provides insurance for medical services. This scheme provides medication, medical supplies, and medical services free to people with chronic non-communicable diseases. In addition, it addresses prevention by focusing on obesity, diet, exercise, and a reduction in tobacco/alcohol use.
Travel (International) Health Insurance in Antigua Barbuda
Travel, or international, health insurance provides comprehensive medical coverage when traveling outside of one’s home country. Travel health insurance is different from travel insurance, as the latter may provide only emergency coverage but not full medical coverage.
Travelers should check with their health insurance provider, as they may already have an option of international health coverage. If they do not, they can purchase travel health insurance from their home country or the destination country.
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