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Solomon Islands Expat Health Insurance

The South Pacific nation of Solomon Islands form an archipelago in the Southwest Pacific about 1,900 kilometers (1,200 mi.) northeast of Australia. With terrain ranging from ruggedly mountainous islands to low-lying coral atolls, Solomon Islands stretch in a 1,450-kilometer (900 mi.) chain southeast from Papua New Guinea across the Coral Sea to Vanuatu.

Solomon Islands was the site of several well known air and naval engagements during the Second World War, perhaps most famously the Battle of Guadalcanal. The Islands are located east of Papua New Guinea, and had been occupied exclusively by various Melanesian peoples until the Spanish explorer Alvaro de Mendana arrived in 1568. Solomon Islands became a protectorate of the United Kingdom in the late 19th century, and remain a strategic location in the South Pacific Ocean. The Islands became independent from the UK in 1978, but are still a member of the Commonwealth, with Queen Elizabeth II as their reigning monarch. Today, the Solomon Islands are a poor country heavily reliant on overseas aid for economic development and the provision of public services. The population of about half a million is mostly engaged in subsistence farming and fishing.

Like many poor countries, life expectancy in Solomon Islands is relatively low: 69 years for males and 72 years for females. The country’s health care expenditure represents about 5.4 per cent of GDP, or US$146 annually per capita. There are 11 hospitals in the entire country – eight public and three private. Solomon Islands’ health care workforce is understaffed. There are 1.9 doctors and 14.5 nurses and midwives per 10,000 population. Some hospitals have no doctors and some provinces have no hospitals. Rural health centres staffed by nurses are located throughout the archipelago. The provision of health care is subject to serious limitations and is heavily dependent on overseas aid from Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Taiwan and the European Union. Locally-provided Solomon Islands health insurance is very limited.

Solomon Islands Health Care Insurance

The burden of communicable disease is very high in Solomon Islands, representing over half of all years of life lost, according to World Health Organisation figures. There are 185 cases of tuberculosis per 100,000 Solomon Islanders, which exceeds the Western Pacific regional average. As with many tropical countries, malaria is a constant a problem. However, non-communicable diseases like cancer, diabetes and heart and lung conditions are increasingly affecting the local population. Because of limited access to health care, maternal mortality is high; at 100 per 100,000 live births it is nearly double the regional average, although programs focused on improving maternal and infant care have seen some successful outcomes. Weak public infrastructure means that access to clean drinking water and sanitation facilities is very limited in rural areas, but this has also seen improvement in recent years.

The Solomon Islands Ministry of Health is divided into three sections: health improvement, health care and administration of matters such as Solomon Islands health insurance. The Ministry has developed an eight point plan for improving public health on the island. These include: improvement of services, improvement of access to care, development of human resources, mortality and morbidity reduction, healthy environment, healthy lifestyle promotion, improvement of reproductive health, and creating partnerships in the development of health care. The Ministry of Health works in close partnership with the WHO, which maintains a liaison office in the capital city of Honiara.

Solomon Islands Travel Advice

Its remote location in the South Pacific makes Solomon Islands a difficult place to visit and its poverty means it is generally not a hub for business travel. However, scuba diving and fishing expeditions are increasingly popular, especially for tourists who enjoy going off the beaten track. There are few notable exports from Solomon Islands except for timber and palm oil, the archipelago does host some business travellers as well as overseas aid workers. But travel to Solomon Islands is not without risk. The islands are located in the Pacific “ring of fire” and are prone to destructive earthquakes and tsunamis. Dengue fever and malaria are very common; sleeping under mosquito nets and using insect repellent with DEET is strongly recommended, and taking a preventative dose of anti-malarial medication may be recommended upon consultation with a physician in your home country.

Visiting a physician specialising in travel health is recommended four to six weeks before departure and routine immunisations should be updated, including hepatitis and typhoid. Diarrhoea, vomiting and nausea are the main travellers’ health issue in Solomon Islands. Acute cases can be treated with over the counter medicine, though persistent symptoms will require a physician’s care. Any regular prescription drugs or basic over the counter medicines should be brought from home, due to the serious limitations of Solomon Islands health insurance and health care.

Rich in history and tropical beauty, Solomon Islands can be an attractive place to visit, but the lack of health care infrastructure is a serious risk. There are two provinces with no hospitals, and some hospitals with no doctors. Should the unthinkable happen and a serious medical emergency occur, air medical evacuation may be required. This can cost tens of thousands of US dollars if paid out of pocket. Hence an international medical insurance plan is strongly recommended for those planning to visit or relocate to Solomon Islands.

Solomon Islands Expat Health Insurance

An international health insurance plan is a wise investment for travellers anywhere, but especially for those visiting remote developing countries like the Solomon Islands where health risks are multiplied. Given the remote location and relatively weak healthcare infrastructure present in the Solomon Islands, expat health insurance can ensure that not only will your hospital costs be covered, but that you will have access to high levels of care through medical transportation and evacuation in cases of emergency. But with so many different international health insurance providers on the market, choosing the best option for you and your family can be a challenge in the Solomon Islands. Expat health insurance that our team of dedicated advisors works with can be complicated to understand, which is why we are available to answer your health insurance related questions and help you select the best plan for your family, company or tour group. Contact Global Health Insurance today for further information.