Health and Safety in Venezuela

Services in private health are high-priced. Facilities in private hospital have higher standard compared to public hospital. Government hospitals are crowded and inefficient though, the charge in public hospital is free. The country still lacks of medical doctors in spite of the government hard efforts in the area of public health. Those hospitals that are located in Caracas are provided the best equipment. As of 2002, the total expense on health is about 4.1% of GDP and health per capita (Intl $) is 386 in 2001.

Diseases that are commonly reported were tuberculosis (3,100 cases) and malaria (14,600 cases). The primary causes of death for every 1,000 people were diseases of the circulatory system (257.9), neoplasm (100.1), infectious diseases (79.5) and injuries (74.6). The country is almost free of yellow and typhoid fever. To sustain this kind of condition, the Department of Health and Social Welfare maintains the program regarding drainage cleanliness and mosquito control. In 1997, inoculation rates for children with age up to 1 year old were tuberculosis 98%, polio 76%, measles 68%, and diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis 60%. The percentage of the populace between 15 and 49 years old with HIV/AIDS was 0.7 in 2003. Better sanitation was obtainable to 71% of the urban population and 48% of the rural population in 2000. A vaccination contrary to hepatitis B is recommended for travelers.