Health Insurance in Nauru, Oceania

Information expatriation

Capital City: Yaren
Total area: 21 km2
Population: 10,000
Money: Currency Converter
Time Zone: List of time zones by country
Calling Code: +691 XXX

Practical Information:

Wikipedia Nauru

Health Product: Travel Insurance and Health insurance
Health Insurance information and Sanitary Risk: World Health Map
BLOG: Expat Health insurance Information

Here is a brief description of the healthcare system in the country:

·      Nauru has a public healthcare system funded primarily through the government budget, supplemented by overseas aid.

·      As a small island nation, healthcare resources are limited. Most complex/specialist services are unavailable locally.

·      The main hospital is Nauru Regional Processing Centre, operated by Australian providers on behalf of the government.

·      It provides basic outpatient and inpatient services, but serious/complex cases are referred abroad primarily to Australia.

·      Preventative programs address major health issues like non-communicable diseases resulting from aspects of Westernized lifestyles.

·      Healthcare is universally accessible to all residents at low cost, though quality is constrained by the small domestic market and remote location.

·      Medical staffing relies heavily on a rotation of overseas doctors/nurses filling posting periods due to the lack of local specialists.

·      Even routine services face consistency challenges with this transient international workforce model.

·      In summary, Nauru's healthcare aims to be publicly funded, nationally accessible and free at point of use, but capacity is very limited by the small isolated population and economy. Overseas referral remains integral.

Here are some key health considerations for expatriates living in the country:

·      Purchase comprehensive international medical evacuation insurance. Local healthcare is very basic.

·      Register with the hospital clinic, but understand major cases will require overseas referral/travel.

·      Ensure all routine immunizations are up to date before arrival. Access to some vaccines may be limited locally.

·      Bring adequate supplies of any prescription medications, as availability of specific drugs is not guaranteed.

·      Water safety - only drink bottled water as the local supply has quality/contamination concerns.

·      Isolation and lack of amenities can impact mental wellbeing. Have a plan to access overseas counseling if needed.

·      Communicable diseases like dengue fever are possible health risks from climate and sanitation factors.

·      Chronic conditions may be difficult to manage routinely without access to specialists/advanced care locally.

·      Costs for medical referrals overseas will be solely an individual's responsibility in most cases.

·      Contingency evacuation plans and travel/medical insurance are crucial given reliance on foreign providers.

·      Thorough preparation and insurance are vital for expats given Nauru's isolation and extremely limited healthcare capacity.