Healthcare may be of primary concern when considering moving to Belize; fortunately, there are various reliable healthcare options for expats available here.
Public system hospitals and clinics include Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital in Belize City as well as several regional facilities like Southern Regional Hospital Dangriga/Orange Walk Town which offer more comprehensive care services.
Public System
Belize’s public healthcare system offers low-cost access to doctors. Unfortunately, economic limitations do not permit Belize’s spending on cutting-edge equipment that would treat certain conditions effectively; as a result, expats seeking advanced treatment often travel abroad – to Mexico or Guatemala for instance – for care.
The Ministry of Health administers public healthcare, while private facilities also play an important part in meeting residents’ medical needs. More than 50 for-profit and four nonprofit clinics exist across Belize City with more dotted around. Public and private facilities often work together – for instance, labs are capable of testing for common tropical parasites for just $25 USD with results often arriving within half a day whereas hospitals provide faster services yet remain costly.
While most major medical needs are covered in Belize, more work needs to be done for it to become an ideal medical tourism destination. Issues including limited specialists, poor hygiene standards in some hospitals and outdated equipment may all present themselves when visiting. People living with serious medical conditions should conduct extensive research about the healthcare system of their area prior to making any plans to relocate there.
Communication should not be an issue for those with limited medical knowledge in Belize, and there is an established expat community in each region to provide answers and assistance when needed. Furthermore, there are various expat websites like Belize Facebook groups that offer support networks to connect those experiencing similar challenges with one another.
Whoever plans on living in Belize should strongly consider purchasing an international health insurance policy. Such plans are widely available from global insurers, typically including coverage for medical airlifting and overseas evacuation if required by law. Though not required by law, many expats living there purchase these policies so that if an unexpected medical emergency should arise they are ready for it with adequate treatment available to them.
Private Healthcare System
Many expats living in Belize choose to supplement the public healthcare system with private facilities as it’s relatively inexpensive and allows them to obtain a wider variety of medical services than what would otherwise be available through public hospitals. Private facilities may be run by for-profit or non-profit institutions and often provide more compassionate environments than public hospitals while providing consistent healthcare across their facilities. Unfortunately, however, private systems lack the funding and resources necessary to keep pace with modern medicine; expats in need of more intensive treatments may need to travel elsewhere such as Mexico or the USA for surgery or long term medical treatments that might otherwise require private treatment at public hospitals in either country.
Public hospitals in Belize are equipped to meet routine healthcare needs at low costs, offering low-cost access to doctors. Unfortunately, due to Belize’s weak economy and limited funding sources for investment in quality care for all, some public hospitals can experience staff shortages, outdated equipment and limited speciality doctors.
Private physicians tend to treat patients more compassionately and prioritize personal wellbeing; many will offer their cellphone numbers or make house calls for sick patients. Unfortunately, long waiting times at clinics remain commonplace and certain medications may be difficult or impossible to source locally; thus making private physicians even more appealing than before.
Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH), Belize’s national and regional referral hospital in Belmopan, provides a wide array of specialized services. However, healthcare quality at district and community hospitals varies considerably due to overcrowding or insufficient staffing issues at public institutions – leading to long wait times for basic services like x-rays or blood tests for some patients.
Health insurance for expats in Belize is not mandatory, though many do purchase it due to the high cost of medical evacuation. Most international policies that cover US or Canadian residents also work here; as it’s English-speaking nation it would be wise to familiarize yourself with terminology used within your policy prior to arrival in Belize.
24-Hour Healthcare Facilities
Belize’s public healthcare system is equipped to address routine health needs at an affordable cost and accessing doctors is fairly accessible outside of Belize City. Unfortunately, however, the economy doesn’t support substantial investments in cutting-edge equipment or specialists, forcing expats living here to travel out-of-country for complex treatment options.
Are You Searching for Private Healthcare in Belize? Private facilities throughout Belize offer consistent, comprehensive medical services at a more expensive rate, perfect for expats, retirees and wealthy locals. Private healthcare institutions include for-profit as well as non-profit institutions to meet your medical needs.
Public hospitals exist in every district across Belize and Karl Heusner Hospital is well-equipped to perform most surgical procedures. Meanwhile, most clinics in the country lack appropriate equipment or staff and can only treat minor ailments.
Expats living in Belize should bear in mind that healthcare facilities vary considerably across towns and even hospitals within one city, making a selection of treatment facilities challenging. Before selecting one for an intended treatment plan, expatriates should inspect its equipment status as well as staff numbers in terms of doctors on staff before selecting it as the place for service provision.
Although Belize’s public healthcare system can meet most routine healthcare needs, those requiring extensive surgeries or specialized treatments would likely benefit from traveling to Mexico or Guatemala for care. Expats who already have Medicare coverage in the US can arrange semi-annual trips back and use that coverage; those with international health policies that cover evacuation flights will also have coverage in Belize.
For Belize residents to qualify for public system, registration with the Social Security Board (SSB) either online or in person must take place; to do this they need a valid social security number, citizenship or permanent residency, with contributions deducted directly from employee paychecks as well as individual contributions being deducted by payroll software companies or paid directly by individuals.
Emergency Evacuation
Belize is a developing nation, and therefore its hospitals may only be capable of servicing certain types of conditions. Therefore, expatriates needing more extensive procedures may find it more cost effective to travel to nearby countries with more robust healthcare systems; this may especially apply to expats living with chronic diseases, like heart disease. Belize does not currently possess facilities capable of accommodating this condition.
Private facilities provide ex-pats who can afford them with more comprehensive healthcare services than the public system. Private hospitals typically feature more specialized doctors who can deliver treatments more effectively than public hospital systems can, as well as having resources to purchase cutting-edge equipment and hire top surgeons.
Belize boasts seven district hospitals that cover each capital of each of the country’s districts; three also function as regional hospitals. Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital in Belmopan is considered to be the finest healthcare facility, having received upgrades over time such as four operating theaters and an electronic patient database system.
However, these facilities often lack sufficient funding to maintain proper hygiene and equipment resulting in long wait times for patients seeking care from a physician. Many hospitals only stock limited medications while many don’t possess cutting edge diagnostics equipment.
Before making their final decision to relocate to Belize, any expat wishing to do so must thoroughly research the healthcare options available in the area. This can be accomplished by speaking to locals and visiting all clinics, doctors and hospitals available in their region – ideally visiting several times to gain an idea of the overall healthcare system in place.
As expats in Belize can utilize both public and private healthcare systems, it is recommended they purchase international health insurance that provides medical airlifting and evacuation coverage at competitive rates from various companies worldwide. Lief Simon serves as managing editor of Global Property Advisor, The Simon Letter and Offshore Living Letter and can offer such plans.
