Health, vaccinations and medical care in Zambia

Payment comes before treatment

• Public and private facilities usually require a cash deposit, a payment guarantee or confirmation of medical insurance up front. Outside the major cities, only a cash deposit is accepted.
• Care is good in some private facilities in Lusaka and very limited or unavailable in rural areas. Medical supplies can be short. The FCDO's summary is that standards throughout Zambia are lower than in the UK and rural facilities are basic with limited emergency services.
• Air evacuation abroad may be necessary. Insurance has to cover evacuation and hospital stays with accessible funds, not a reimbursement six weeks later.
• Carry basic medical supplies. This is the country where a small kit earns its space.

The medicines rule is stricter than you think

• Certain prescription and over-the-counter drugs that are ordinary at home are on Zambia's list of controlled substances. Global Affairs Canada records travellers being charged with drug trafficking and imprisoned over them.
• If yours is on the list you need an import permit from the Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority, applied for at least two weeks before you travel, through its e-service portal. ZAMRA is the body that issues import authorisations and works with the border agencies.
• Keep medication in its original container with a copy of the prescription, showing both the generic and the trade name, in hand luggage.

Before you go

• Check vaccine recommendations at least 8 weeks ahead. Malaria is a risk across the country and antimalarials are recommended for most travellers.
• Yellow fever, dengue, cholera and mpox are all listed by the FCDO as risks here. Rabies is common, carried by dogs and bats, and post-exposure treatment may not be available locally.
• Schistosomiasis is in the fresh water. Do not swim or wade in lakes, rivers and ponds, which is the same advice the crocodiles imply.
• Adult HIV prevalence is about 11 per cent, against 0.2 per cent in the UK.

The Kafue contamination

• In February 2025 mining waste containing heavy metals was released into the Chambishi stream and the Mwambashi and Kafue rivers in Copperbelt Province.
• Do not bathe in those waters, do not drink untreated local water there and do not eat fish from the area. Boiling does not remove heavy metals. Seek medical attention if you feel unwell.