 |
|
|
| |
Tuvalu International Health Insurance / Tuvalu Healthcare System
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 The Pacific
island nation of Tuvalu is the third-least populous country in the
world, with slightly more than ten thousand inhabitants. It also
has the second lowest elevation of any island nation, with a
maximum height of 4.5 metres (only the Maldives is lower), and is
therefore considered at risk of disappearing by some climate
change experts. The country has few natural resources, and is
almost entirely reliant on foreign aid and eco-tourism for income.
The former British colony, known then as the Ellice Islands (as
part of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony), achieved
independence in 1978 and became a member of the United Nations
(UN) in 2000. This poor country’s GDP per capita using purchasing
power parity is only about USD1,600, and the UN considers it a
Least Developed Country (LDC). Government expenditure makes up
nearly all of health care spending in Tuvalu, and most of this
comes from foreign aid. Only 0.2 percent of health care spending
comes from the private sector and this is entirely out of pocket
spending. There is no local private health insurance in Tuvalu.
According to the UN health agency, the World Health Organisation
(WHO), life expectancy in Tuvalu is 64 years for males and 65 for
females, which is quite low, even by regional standards. Tuvalu is
considered part of the WHO’s Western Pacific region. Heavy smoking
rates persist despite measures to curtail the number of tobacco
users in the country; over half of adult Tuvaluan males, and more
than twenty percent of females, are smokers. Obesity is
increasingly problematic; 46.6 percent of males and 67.6 percent
of females are considered obese. This has led to a host of health
problems, including diabetes and heart disease.
The WHO has helped to implement a number of strategic objectives
in cooperation with the Tuvaluan Ministry of Health in order to
reduce the burden of disease on the local populace. These include
providing tuberculosis drugs, prevent public health issues
associated with poor diet and inactivity, increase Tuvalu’s
capacity to address health issues affecting the poor, improve the
capabilities of local health care professionals, and provide and
analyse data to improve the drafting and implementation of health
care policies.
Annual per capita spending on health care is only USD205, which is
about 11.4 percent of GDP. Although there are usually fewer than
ten doctors on the island, there are over 40 nurses and midwives
(more than twice the regional average per 10,000 people), thereby
ensuring that there is a decent level of medical care during
childbirth and infancy. In fact, every birth in Tuvalu is attended
by a skilled health care professional, which is an important
achievement for a country with the level of poverty of Tuvalu.
In the wake of the global economic downturn many Pacific islands,
being peripheral to global markets, suffered serious economic
dislocation which adversely affected the delivery of health care.
The WHO has arranged ministerial meetings to address a host of
health issues arising from the reduction in aid revenue to the
island. These include food security, aid effectiveness, access to
essential medicines, control of non-communicable diseases and
preparedness for epidemics (such as avian flu). A 2011 conference
in Brussels was arranged by the UN with the aim of making up
funding shortfalls for aid programs following the global
recession; seeking alternative sources of aid revenue has become a
major issue as wealthier countries weather economic shocks.
A recent fatal case of H1N1 flu in Fiji has been blamed on the
opening of a new trade route with Tuvalu. Although this could
occur anywhere, travellers are advised to avoid contact with
patients, wash hands with soap or alcohol-based sanitizer and to
always cover mouth and nose with a handkerchief when coughing or
sneezing.
Although quite remote, Tuvalu is increasingly a tourist
destination for adventure eco-travel and aid workers. There is
only one scheduled flight into Tuvalu per week which originates in
Fiji and lands in the capital city of Funafuti in Tuvalu. The
airport runway is used as a road when planes aren’t using it.
Visitors to Tuvalu should visit a health care specialist four to
six weeks before travel to ensure that routine immunisations are
up to date, including typhoid, which may be transmitted in areas
with limited access to clean food and water. As with many tropical
islands, insect borne diseases are prevalent. These may be
prevented with insect repellent with DEET, wearing long sleeved
clothing and sleeping under mosquito nets.
As with most travel destinations, the most common medical issue
for visitors to Tuvalu is gastrointestinal discomfort. Drinking
bottled or purified water is recommended; raw and undercooked food
should be avoided. Acute cases of nausea, diarrhoea and vomiting
can be treated with over the counter drugs, although serious
persistent cases require a visit to a physician.
Given Tuvalu’s limited medical care resources, its inhabitants
must often go overseas for healthcare, usually to Fiji, Australia
or New Zealand, and increasingly to India. Given the country’s
lack of health insurance infrastructure, travellers must make
arrangements before embarking on a trip too Tuvalu.
|
|
Tuvalu International Health Insurance |
| |
For travellers planning a visit to the island nation of Tuvalu, Globalsurance can assist with any international health insurance requirements. Our experienced teams worldwide can provide a free consultation on all available insurance policy options, including those for solo travellers, families and any type of tour group. Policies available through the Globalsurance
network cover a wide range of medical services including: dental,
maternity, specialist consultation, transportation, inpatient
services and more. Contact a Globalsurance representative today
for further details and a free expat medical insurance
consultation.
|
|
