Health Insurance in Angola

Angola’s public healthcare system is known as the Serviço Nacional de Saúde (National Health Service) and is managed by the Ministry of Health.

This system has been struggling in recent years with issues such as a lack of modern equipment and a shortage of medical professionals. To help remedy this, the government announced plans in 2023 to recruit 38,000 medical staff by the year 2027 to meet healthcare demands.

Health insurance for expats in Angola

The health insurance system in Angola

Though the government is currently working towards providing universal healthcare coverage for its citizens by 2025, this is not yet available.

As an expat, there are no restrictions on you accessing the state healthcare system to get medical treatment. Many public healthcare services are free, but you could be required to pay out of pocket for services such as diagnostic tests and medication.

Angola’s public system is broadly divided into three tiers, which consists of the following:

• Primary healthcare: this is delivered at health posts and centres and acts as the initial access point for medical care. Services provided in primary care facilities includes preventative care, specialist referrals and basic diagnostic tests.

• Secondary healthcare: this type of care usually requires a referral, as the treatment provided is more specialist. It is offered at provincial and general hospitals and comprises of treatment like as specialist consultations and diagnostic testing and imaging.

• Tertiary healthcare: this level of healthcare is used to treat the highly complex and serious health conditions. It is delivered by the most specialised healthcare professionals and advanced medical technology.

Most pharmacies found in Angola are private and primarily found in highly populated areas. Here, you can get treatment for minor everyday illnesses, as well as buy over-the-counter medication and get your prescriptions.

For a higher standards of care, you could choose to receive treatment in a private medical facility. There are 34 private hospitals in the country, as well as 319 clinics, which can allow you to avoid long waiting times for treatment and a higher likelihood of accessing care in English.

This system has been struggling in recent years with issues such as a lack of modern equipment and a shortage of medical professionals. To help remedy this, the government announced plans in 2023 to recruit 38,000 medical staff by the year 2027 to meet healthcare demands.

How to choose health insurance in Angola: local or international?

Having private health insurance cover in place can be beneficial if you’re considering a move to Angola, helping to protect your healthcare needs when living in another country.

A local health insurance plan can provide you with access to private medical facilities across Angola and can be a cheaper option than international healthcare cover. But it’s important to note that this type of cover is usually limited to the country the policy was purchased in.

On the other hand, IPMI offers a higher level of flexibility for expats, giving them the freedom to choose the length of their cover, where they are treated, and who treats them. It’s a particularly beneficial option if you’re a frequent traveller, enabling you to receive quality medical at top medical facilities across the world, so long as it is within your area of cover.