Healthcare treatment vary considerably across Belize. Each village and town features clinics with differing doctors and equipment quality standards.
Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital serves as both a regional and national referral facility, while seven district hospitals act as additional services providers offering additional coverage.
Belize Hospitals
Belize City’s national hospital is modern and well-equipped, but due to Belize’s limited economy it cannot afford investments in cutting-edge equipment or specialist staff. Therefore, expats who require urgent medical attention should travel to Mexico or the US instead for care.
Outside the capital city, seven district hospitals exist throughout Corozal, Toledo, Orange Walk, Belmopan, and Dangriga districts that offer free or very cost-effective healthcare to residents in these districts with valid BHIS cards issued by the Ministry of Health. A day stay typically costs $15 USD in public hospitals while blood testing and ultrasound costs are significantly less than what would be found in North America. Local pharmacies can provide prescription medication at much more reasonable costs.
Though most expats rely on public healthcare systems for routine needs, retirees and wealthy locals often prefer access to specialists through private practices, which offer more modern facilities and faster service; however, they tend to be more costly; consequently, it is common practice among expats to carry private medical insurance coverage.
Belize doctors tend to be highly trained professionals with dual language capabilities who are fluent in English and Spanish – making communication easy for most patients with their providers. Furthermore, Belize boasts numerous high-quality dental clinics at reasonable costs, making it an attractive destination for medical tourism.
Recently, the Ministry of Health required patients to pay fees for services rendered; this practice has now been discontinued in favor of user-based billing system. This change should have an immediate and positive effect on the quality of healthcare in Belize, enabling better tracking patient data and optimizing its public healthcare system. Furthermore, the ministry will be able to identify areas for improvement and implement necessary reforms. Be mindful that, though Belize’s medical infrastructure is improving, the country does not yet possess level one trauma centers and the U.S. Embassy advises foreign nationals visiting Belize to check their medical coverage and have a plan in place in case of an emergency.
Clinics in Belize
Although Belize had an advanced primary healthcare system before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, limited disease surveillance capacity and severe staff shortages limited response and recovery efforts. Belize managed to quickly respond to increased healthcare demands during this period due to improved communication and stronger community involvement.
Clinics and mobile healthcare units play a critical role in Belize’s healthcare system. Roughly 14% of its health workforce are dedicated to caring for these smaller facilities that offer full range of basic health services; often led by general practitioners that offer diagnostic tests, medications, vaccinations, as well as referrals to more specialized specialists as needed.
Belize currently boasts more than 50 for-profit and four nonprofit clinics spread throughout its borders, with five in Belmopan serving as its capital city. Some clinics operate 24/7 while others abide by standard business hours. Most rural locations feature multiple clinics which employ trained healthcare providers who understand the unique health requirements of local communities they serve.
BHIS covers nearly all of Belize’s population, with 93% having public insurance. Two district hospitals and three regional hospitals receive public funding; of these hospitals, Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital in Belmopan stands out due to being regularly upgraded since opening over two decades ago.
Unfortunately, Belize’s public healthcare system cannot meet the demand for high-quality and advanced treatments for serious and life-threatening conditions, meaning those ill or injured may do better seeking assistance elsewhere – Mexico or the US might provide more appropriate solutions than Belize for heart conditions and cancer patients seeking appropriate treatments. Therefore, it’s essential that before making plans to relocate permanently or change residency within Belize it’s essential that you confirm travel medical coverage as this could save lives in both cases.
Rural Healthcare
Belize’s public hospitals are equipped to deliver primary medical care, but do not possess sufficient resources for specialist services. Belmopan serves as the capital city and has two hospitals while seven more facilities located across its seven district capitals provide care across internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics and obstetrics & gynecology – these eight services include Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital located in Belize City for this reason.
Public hospitals and clinics in Belize can be reached without incurring significant costs for residents with valid Health Information System cards, while for-profit and non-profit facilities can also be found throughout the country. While private hospitals tend to cost more than their public counterparts, they typically offer more services and tend to be considered more up to date than their counterparts.
The Ministry of Health in Belize oversees the public healthcare sector. They are responsible for subsidizing medication and vaccines as well as emergency surgeries; patients must pay separately for diagnostic services such as lab tests or X-rays.
Recent years, the government has undertaken steps to strengthen rural healthcare infrastructure. They established four health regions – northern, central, western and southern – catering to specific geographic regions and offering primary and secondary care; only the central region provides tertiary care services.
Although Belize’s public healthcare leaves much to be desired, there are a few encouraging signs. For instance, Belize is making significant strides in cervical cancer prevention by offering free or low-cost screenings in all districts. Furthermore, recently the government removed fees from many public hospitals so staff can focus on improving patient outcomes instead of worrying about monetary revenue streams.
Over time, this should help Belize reduce the incidence of cervical cancer; however, this will take time. Meanwhile, expats should consider purchasing private health insurance; coverage can be relatively affordable in Belize and includes medical evacuation insurance which is important when traveling there.
Treatment Accessibility
Belize’s public healthcare system offers low-cost access to doctors for most routine issues. Unfortunately, Belize’s weak economy and limited medical provisions limit its ability to offer advanced treatment, so many expatriates opt to travel nearby countries for specialist care instead of staying within Belize itself. Still, several reliable hospitals exist in Belize offering quality medical treatment at reasonable costs.
As part of an effort to reduce financial barriers that prevent many patients from accessing healthcare, Belize recently lifted all fees at public hospitals following an evaluation conducted over 15 months which revealed financial restrictions were having a substantial negative effect on access. This initiative marks an important step toward reaching its ultimate goal of universal healthcare coverage.
Though Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH), located in Belize City, is considered the country’s flagship healthcare facility, several regional facilities also exist throughout Belize. For instance, Western Regional Hospital in Belmopan provides many of the same services you would find at a community hospital in North America while Dangriga Southern Regional Hospital offers secondary and tertiary care.
Healthcare institutions in Belize provide a range of services; however, they often lack the equipment and resources necessary to treat some serious conditions, particularly those found in rural areas. It is therefore wise to plan your health care requirements prior to moving to Belize.
Private healthcare facilities may be costly, but they offer advanced treatments unavailable through public hospitals. Thankfully, an increasing number of insurance companies offer international medical coverage in Belize in response to an increasing demand for affordable private healthcare solutions.
Attracting customers, these policies not only offer affordable and high-quality medical coverage, but they also include global evacuation coverage that covers air transport costs for patients who must be transferred back to North America because of life-threatening or severe injuries. It can be an excellent investment for those looking to ensure they can access top medical attention if something unfortunate should happen while living abroad.
