Mainly concentrated in Dakar, the Senegalese health system has some renowned doctors. However, the lack of state-of-the-art equipment and the quality of the medical infrastructure might make it necessary to cross the country's borders to seek medical care with more peace of mind. International health insurance is therefore the most suitable medical cover for expatriates.
Get a quote according to the length of your stay:
Health insurance for expats in Senegal
The health insurance system in Senegal
While civil servants and certain categories of the population (nationals over 60 and under 5 years of age) benefit from public schemes to cover their health expenses, the rest of the population has private cover:
- via their employers, who are obliged to affiliate their employees to an Institute for Health Insurance (IPM) at company level (or sometimes by means of inter-company contracts). 40-80% of the insured persons' health costs are then covered, but only within the network of healthcare providers of each IPM;
- voluntarily with a private insurance company, for the self-employed population, the unemployed and those working in the informal sector. This insurance is a condition for their access to public and private health facilities.
How to choose health insurance in Senegal: local or international?
As the majority of the country's doctors, health centres, hospitals, and pharmacies are concentrated in Dakar, mobility is essential for residents in Senegal. The absence of certain specialities and advanced technical facilities may also require consultation outside the country, in case of a specific need, for example in North Africa, which has better facilities, or even in the individual’s home country.
However, the coverage offered by local IPMs and insurances limits the health offer to the network of local healthcare providers of each entity. In this context, taking out international health insurance allows for a wider range of care, both within and outside the country. This solution usually also offers a telemedicine service, useful for obtaining a diagnosis or a second medical opinion from a health professional in the country of origin.
> Good to know: the IPM only starts covering employees after two months of paid contributions. International health insurance can be useful at least to cover this waiting period.
The cost of healthcare in Senegal: some examples from the private sector
GP CONSULTATION
A visit to a general practitioner costs XOF 20,000 (€30)
APRIL International up to 30 €*
Out-of-pocket expenses 0€**
SPECIALIST CONSULTATION
Count XOF 25,000 (€40) for a consultation with a specialist
APRIL International up to 40 €*
Out-of-pocket expenses 0€**
HOSPITALISATION - MATERNITY
Natural delivery without complications with 3 days in hospital: from XOF 700,000 (€1,063)
APRIL International up to 1063 €*
Out-of-pocket expenses 0€**
Examples of average costs of care in the private health sector - APRIL International data 01/2022
* Example of reimbursement with MyHealth International - Comfort
** Example of the amount to be paid by the insured after reimbursement
Care in Senegal
Choosing hospitals
Health care in Senegal is provided in hospitals, health centres, private practices, and also at home. In the case of local health insurance, it is advisable to find out about the list of partner hospitals and health centres, which can be consulted beforehand.
In the case of international health insurance, it is possible to choose a healthcare facility and a doctor. Dakar's main hospital is the best-known health facility in Senegal, covering a wide range of specialities and ranking in the top 30 best African hospitals (Webometris, 2015). Dakar also has a few good private clinics.
Health transfers to neighbouring countries (Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria), or even repatriation, are however often recommended in case of complex care needs.
Titre phone establishment list
Health facilities
Titre phone display
Emergency numbers in Senegal
Additional info about life and healthcare in Senegal
Which international health insurance is right for you?
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