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Tonga International Health Insurance / Healthcare System |
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Tonga is an archipelago situated in the South Pacific Ocean consisting of more than 170 islands. It has a population of 120,000 people. Tonga gained independence from Britain in 1970 and has an economy which is reliant on the fishing, agricultural and tourist industries. The robust tourist industry is geared to the superb tropical beaches, active volcanoes and rainforests.
The healthcare system in Tonga has improved in recent years, with Tongan citizens now having improved healthcare including preventive medical programmes and increased access to healthcare facilities. Despite these improvements, the healthcare sector in Tonga is still limited with considerable scope for further improvement.
The Ministry of Health in Tonga oversees the healthcare sector in the country, with four key health programmes being applied; these are - policy formulation and administration, preventive health services, curative health services and dental health services. The government of Tonga provides Tongan citizens with healthcare services free of charge at the point of use. Access to health services and doctor availability is generally good, with the exception of access to medical facilities for residents living on the more remote, isolated islands. The Tongan healthcare system is comprised of 14 healthcare centres and 34 maternal healthcare clinics. There are four Tongan hospitals present in the country, which are: the tertiary Vaiola Hospital in Nuku’alofa, which has 191 beds, and three district hospitals - the Prince Ngu’s hospital in Vava’u, the Niu’ui hospital in Ha’apai, and the Niu’eki hospital in Eua.
The Tongan Healthcare System is very limited in the range of health services it can provide, although the cities of Nuku'alofa and Neiafu have hospitals with some emergency and outpatient facilities. Tongan citizens who are residents in Tonga will normally be treated in New Zealand for general surgical and advanced medical procedures.
Because Tonga is an archipelago country, transportation across the country can be difficult and referral for patients requiring tertiary care for acute illness can be problematic. Primary care delivered at smaller healthcare clinics can get overrun by demand and patients are sometimes required to wait for long periods of time to consult with a doctor. If a patient requires medical care from the New Zealand healthcare system - under agreed arrangements - a Medical Transfer Board will need to confirm the decision to transfer the patient for specialist treatment.
As the Tongan healthcare system is limited in its range of services it can provide, specialist medical professionals will visit the country, on a regular basis, to provide healthcare to citizens requiring medical treatments in areas such as eye surgery, plastic surgery, corrective orthopaedic surgery and rheumatic heart disease.
In the last survey conducted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2003, it was estimated that 89% of all Tongan healthcare services were delivered by public hospitals, with health centres only accounting for 6.2%. The Government of Tonga funded 45% of total expenditure on healthcare in the country, 23% was generated from Tongan householders and 32% was provided by donations. The 2003 review of the Tongan healthcare system highlighted the government funding the vast majority of curative and preventive care costs; consequently out-of-pocket payments by the indigenous population for healthcare services in Tonga are low. It is estimated that approximately 12% of Tongan citizens have some form of private health insurance.
The Ministry of Health in Tonga is one the biggest employers in the country. Doctors in Tonga are often educated and trained in Australia, New Zealand or Fiji - normally through bilateral scholarships or WHO fellowships. Roughly 30 nurses a year graduate from the Queen Salote School of Nursing in Tonga, which is generally through a basic nurse training programme. However, a large proportion of Tongan educated nurses often take up employment in Australia, New Zealand or the USA; this has lead to the Ministry of Health in Tonga increasing the in-take of student nurses to offset the loss of qualified staff.
The private healthcare sector in Tonga is still being developed even though the country has a strong tourist industry. Privately run healthcare facilities mainly consist of after-hour doctor clinics run by government employed physicians or traditional local healers.
The healthcare system in Tonga is facing a critical point, with the challenge being how to increase resource availability and funding for medium term development. The government of Tonga currently provides citizens of the country with free of charge medical treatment and medication; approximately 10% to 15% of the government’s total annual budget is spent on the health sector in Tonga. The aim for the Ministry of Health and the Government of Tonga is to maintain steady improvements to the health sector within funding limits. Proposals under review include the adoption of a contributory social welfare system and the introduction of fees for health services at the point of use.
Dengue fever is endemic to Tonga and the South Pacific region, with outbreaks occurring at anytime. In recent years there have been confirmed outbreaks on the main island of Tongatapu, which also spread to all island groups except the Niuas. Dengue fever is a vector-borne disease transmitted to humans by mosquito bites, there is no vaccination to counteract this disease and visitors to Tonga are advised to take maximum precautions against attacks by mosquitoes.
If you are traveling to Tonga from a region of the world which is infected with yellow fever you will be required to prove that you received the vaccination against the disease. A traveler visiting Tonga is advised to consult with a doctor prior to departure to ensure a vaccination against yellow fever is obtained and that a certificate is received. It is also recommended that you see a doctor for up-to-date health advice for Tonga and obtain details about healthcare issues which might be affecting the country.
Visitors to Tonga need to bear-in-mind the limitations of the healthcare system in the country. In the case of complex or advanced medical treatment being required, a patient will need to be transported to a neighboring country which has healthcare facilities of excellence. It is strongly advised that visitors to Tonga and their family members obtain comprehensive Tongan international health insurance, which includes medical air ambulance services in order to provide financial protection from potentially high costs which may occur.
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Tonga International Health Insurance |
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If you are looking for peace-of-mind knowing that medical costs will be covered in case of an accident or illness, to yourself and your family, while traveling to or residing in Tonga, international health insurance plan will be the ideal solution. Policies can be tailor-made to ensure all your needs are met while in Tonga. Should you require further information on Tonga, global medical insurance, or to receive a free quotation, please do not hesitate to call one of our expert advisers now.
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