Kiribati Health Insurance

Feeling comfortable in the knowledge that if something was to happen to a family member their medical costs will be taken care of, is important to us all. Our expert consultants can advise on the most suitable level of coverage for families, individuals, groups, travelers, and teachers expatriate health insurance.

Expatriate Health Insurance Kiribati

Pacific Prime is an expatriate insurance broker specialising in providing overseas medical insurance for Kiribati nationals living, working or holidaying abroad. If you are a non Kiribati national and moving to Kiribati we can also provide plans that meet your specific requirements.

Professional Service you can trust

Pacific Prime Insurance will be with you for the duration of your policy. We offer additional customer services that include claims advice, emergency contact numbers and medical advice lines. We also maintain a comprehensive list of Kiribati hospitals/doctors. Most of our clients are expatriates so we maintain a list of Embassies in Kiribati.

As a leading broker of medical insurance in Kiribati we keep up on the latest insurance trends and Kiribati Insurance News.

We can offer expatriates in Kiribati dedicated international health insurance plans that will provide comprehensive coverage in the East and around the world. Plans that we can offer will usually have a number of benefits that a policyholder is able to tailor to suit their specific requirements. With coverage options including out-patient, dental, maternity, and emergency evacuation, you will be assured of receiving the highest levels of quality treatment anywhere in the world.

Kiribati Medical Insurance

Kiribati, or the Republic of Kiribati, is a tropical country, situated on the equator in the central Pacific Ocean. Kiribati is composed of 32 atolls islands, and one raised coral island, scattered over an area of 3.5 million square kilometres. The International Date Line lies to the easternmost point of the country. The official language is English and Gilbertese. As of 2009 the total Kiribati population is estimated at 98,000 people. Kiribati, formerly a colony of the United Kingdom, gained independence in 1979 and it is now a parliamentary republic. The capital is Tarawa and the currency is the Kiribati dollar and Australian dollar.

Kiribati is considered one of the poorest countries in the world with foreign aid from Australia, New Zealand and Japan supplementing the national GDP. In 2004 agriculture accounted for some 8.9 percent of Kiribati’s GDP, industry 24.2 percent and the services sector 66.8 percent. Kiribati has few natural resources, therefore it relies heavily on imports for other countries. The estimated per capita income is $6,048.

The Kiribati health care system is publicly funded and heavily subsided by foreign aid from Kiribati’s development partners. In 2008 the total funding allocated to the health sector was $13.45 million, accounting for 8.2 percent of overall government expenditure. The administration of the health care system falls under the department of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services. Traditional medical services are also popular in Kiribati in the form of traditional healers who offer local medicines, massage and antenatal services, in addition to childbirth and postnatal care; however, there is no coordination between the Ministry of Health and the traditional healthcare system.

There are four hospitals in Kiribati, a referral hospital in South Tarawa that provides a range of secondary curative services, a basic surgical, medical and maternity hospital situated on Kiritimati Island, a newly constructed hospital in North Tabiteuea and a small basic medical services hospital in Betio, South Tarawa. There is also a health centre that operates in South Tarawa. These are the only facilities that have a full time doctor in residents. In order to access tertiary services such as cancer treatment, patients have to be sent overseas and fulfil the clinical criteria outlined by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services. Primary health care services can be accessed through a network of 92 health centres and dispensaries. Services are best described as modest and lacking in advanced technology.

The health care system within Kiribati faces a number of challenges which are exacerbated by the country’s geographical isolation and small population. The main challenge is in the area of human resources. Kiribati has an ageing health care workforce that employs retired health care professionals, on contract, in order to meet demand for services. There is a deficit of health care trainees to fill future positions within the health care system. In 2008, the health care workforce consisted of 361 nurses and midwives, 25 physicians, 18 dentists and technicians and 22 pharmacists and technicians. The health care system lacks a coherent plan to support contentious training of health care workers; staff motivation and productivity are reported to be an issue.

As of 2011, the Kiribatian birth rate is 22.73 live births per 1,000 people setting the rate of growth of population at 1.249 percent; the infant mortality rate is 38.89 deaths per 1,000 live births; the life expectancy at birth is 62.03 years old for males and 66.88 years old for females. In 2008 both countries Kiribati entered into an agreement with Cuba to increase collaboration in the health sector; this saw an unprecedented medical exchange within Kiribati, and a number of Cuban medical professionals immigrated to the country. There are currently sixteen Cuban doctors operating in Kiribati, and over twenty Kiribati students in the process of obtaining medical qualifications in Cuba’s universities at the expense of the Cuban government.

Also in 2008, the Kiribati administration made an official request to the governments of Australia and New Zealand to recognise the citizens of Kiribati as permanent refugees. This request was prompted by the assumption that Kiribati will be the first territory to be submerged by the sea due to the effects of global climate change.

Before you travel to Kiribati you should ensure that all routine vaccinations are up-to-date. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is a requirement for entry into the country for all visitors over one year of age. Tuberculosis is at endemic levels in Kiribati, and there are approximately 40 cases per 100,000 head of population being reported annually. Those at high risk of contracting Tuberculosis, such as individuals working with young children, should consider a vaccination before arrival to the country. Other vaccination options that should be discussed with your health care professional are Typhoid fever, Hepatitis A and B and Influenza. Although there has been no reported case of Rabies in Kiribati you are advised to be cautious of animals bites, especially those from dogs. Visitors should drink only boiled or bottled water to reduce the risk of contracting infection.

Dengue fever, a non-vaccine/medication preventable disease, is contracted from the bite of the Aedes mosquito. The Aedes mosquito is at highest concentration in urban areas and feed predominately during day light hours. Rates of infection of Dengue in Kiribati are at epidemic levels. Preventative measure such as wearing insect repellent, long pants and sleeves, sleeping in air-conditioned rooms and using bed-nets are recommended.

Due to Kiribati’s location, the risk of tropical cyclones from the beginning of November until the end of April is high. International weather reports can be accessed the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO). Water restrictions may also be put in place during your stay as droughts are common, and when droughts occur, they tend to be severe. Crime is minimal in Kiribati however there are regular reports of street brawls due to drunkenness. Overcrowding of buses is part and parcel of everyday life on the islands leading to increased fatalities when accidents occur; do not embark on a bus journey if you feel safety standards are not being maintained.

Due to the low quality nature of the Kiribati healthcare system we advise all foreign nationals who are travelling, or permanently relocating to the country to obtain some form of comprehensive international health insurance. In the event of an expatriate suffering a serious illness or accident while in the country treatment may not be available at Kiribati hospitals, necessitating an overseas evacuation. Any medical insurance coverage purchased for protection within Kiribati should include an emergency evacuation benefit.

If you are travelling or relocating to Kiribati, please contact us to discuss the range of global medical insurance options available from Pacific Prime. Our team of professional consultants can offer unbiased advice, free of charge, on a range of medical insurance options which may include benefits for dental treatment, maternity coverage, emergency transportation and many more. For a free Kiribati health insurance quote, or to receive additional global health insurance options, please contact us today.