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Vanuatu International Health Insurance / Healthcare System
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Vanuatu, officially the Republic of Vanuatu, is located in the
South Pacific. This archipelago nation consists of 83 small
islands with an approximate population of 243,000 people. Vanuatu
was previously a British-French condominium known as the New
Hebrides. A national movement seeking independence began in the
1970s and independence was achieved in 1980. Vanuatu is a
democratic Republic, headed by a President and an elected 52
member Parliament. The national language of Vanuatu is Bislama
although the official languages used for educational and business
purposes are English and French. Despite its colonial past, 113
indigenous languages have survived and remained in everyday use.
Vanuatu enjoys a sub-tropical climate with a dry season and a wet
season. During the dry season, typically April to September,
Vanuatu experiences cooler, more pleasant conditions. Hot, humid
conditions typify the wet season, normally October to March, with
abundant rainfall each month. Cyclones are also generated during
this time and can cause damage to property. Vanuatu enjoys a rich
and unique culture with art, literature, music and sports all
playing an important role in everyday life. Vanuatu’s small
economy is largely reliant on agriculture and fishing.
A distance of 1,300km between Vanuatu’s most northern and southern
islands has caused considerable problems for the government and
its delivery of services, in particular the provision of
healthcare. The Ministry of Health is responsible for Vanuatu’s
healthcare system. In excess of 80 percent of the population live
in isolated rural areas and have limited access to health
facilities. This lack of basic facilities coupled with chronic
shortages of qualified medical personnel represents real
challenges for the country going forward. The Vanuatu Ministry of
Health created a Master Health Services Plan 2004-2009 and the
goals of this plan were to improve the general standard of health,
to improve access and quality of services delivered and to ensure
better use of healthcare resources. The plan was successful in
some areas, specifically in improving maternal and child health,
reducing infant mortality and combating the spread of diseases
such as malaria, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis. An updated policy
document for the period 2010 – 2016 intends to build on these
successes and emphasizes the continued desire to prioritize and
tackle these specific areas.
Total Vanuatu health expenditure as a percentage of GDP has seen
an increase in recent years and is currently at 4 percent. The
government is the primary source of healthcare funding in Vanuatu,
providing approximately 80 percent of the total annual healthcare
budget. The remainder consists of contributions from the private
sector (approximately 18 percent) and international donors
(approximately 2 percent). Private sector health care
expenditure’s two primary contributors are of out of pocket
expenses (67 percent) and private Vanuatu health insurance (11
percent).
Hospital and medical facilities in Vanuatu are at best basic and
limited, and fall considerably short of international standards.
There are two hospitals in the capital city Port Vila; The Vila
Central Hospital and The Vila Bay Health Center (private). There
is one hospital on Espiritu Santo which is called the Northern
District Hospital with an additional five public hospitals located
on the outer islands. In addition to hospitals, a number of health
centers and aid offices can be found on the smaller islands. These
centers and offices are located in remote rural areas and while
they are officially funded by the Ministry of Health and
international non-governmental organizations (NGOs), they are
usually staffed by medical volunteers. Hospitals and doctors will
expect cash payment at the time of treatment. Patients who
experience a medical emergency which may require complicated
treatment must be evacuated to Australia or New Zealand. The costs
involved in air evacuation are prohibitively expensive. Vanuatu’s
private medical insurance sector is limited with little choice
available. Consequently, expatriates and short term visitors
intending to travel to Vanuatu are advised to purchase an
international health insurance policy prior to traveling which
should also include cover for emergency evacuation.
Vanuatu’s location in the tropics and close proximity to the
Pacific Ocean has meant that cases of Malaria and other
mosquito-borne diseases such as Dengue Fever and Filariasis are
found nationwide throughout the year. Effectively tackling Malaria
in particular has proved difficult for the Ministry of Health
although the recent introduction of bed-nets has resulted in a
decrease in the number of infected cases. Water-borne, food-borne,
parasitic and other infectious diseases (including Hepatitis and
tuberculosis) are prevalent, with more serious outbreaks occurring
from time to time. Seeking medical advice before traveling to
Vanuatu is strongly recommended. Receiving the routine and
individual vaccinations for Hepatitis and Typhoid are advised. The
most recent outbreak of Typhoid occurred in 2006 on the island of
Tanna and it remains a low risk. Mains tap water in the large
population centers of Port Vila and Luganville is safe to drink,
however, mains water elsewhere on Vanuatu should be boiled before
drinking or alternatively bottled water should be used.
Travelers to Vanuatu should note that the archipelago is situated
on the Pacific 'Ring of Fire' and the islands regularly
experiences seismic and volcanic activity. The volcanic Mount
Yasur on the island of Tanna is currently experiencing unusually
high levels of activity and access to the island is now
restricted. Increasing numbers of adventure enthusiasts and divers
are now visiting the islands. Divers in particular should be aware
that there is only one decompression chamber in the country,
located in Port Vila. Many of the popular dive sites are located
on remote islands and it may take several hours to reach medical
facilities in the event of an accident. Crime rates in Vanuatu are
generally low. Incidents involving burglary at properties occupied
by expatriates are on the increase and these incidents have
occasionally been accompanied by violence. Petty street crime such
as pick pocketing and purse snatching is common and thefts have
occurred in restaurants, bars and other areas frequented by
tourists. Single travelers are advised to contact a travel
operator and join a guided tour group before visiting remote
tourist sites and beaches.
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Vanuatu International Health Insurance |
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Purchasing comprehensive international health insurance before traveling to Vanuatu is strongly recommended. Emergency medical and healthcare costs, including air evacuation, are expensive. To ensure that you are sufficiently protected, purchase an international health insurance plan. For more information about the various products and services Globalsurance can offer, or to
receive a free global health insurance quote, please
contact one
of our advisers today.
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