Inadequate Healthcare in Pacific Islands
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Summary+
The high prevalence of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), vulnerability to communicable diseases, and limited access to healthcare in rural areas pressure healthcare systems in Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs). Due to healthcare worker shortages, resource deficits, and economic constraints, the quality of PICT healthcare systems is considered insufficient concerning key criteria for adequate healthcare, namely effectiveness, accessibility, and safety. This inadequacy leads to both higher mortality and morbidity, contributing to preventable deaths, delayed diagnoses, ineffective treatments, and poor management of disease for Pacific Islanders. While PICTs have recognized the inadequacy of their healthcare systems, treatment gaps persist and prevent progress.
Key Takeaways+
The prevalence of NCDs presents a major burden to PICT health systems, as PICTs hold the top 12 highest national diabetes prevalence rates and 9 of the top 10 highest national obesity prevalence rates in the world.,
A high prevalence of risk factors for communicable diseases causes a high vulnerability to such diseases in PICTs, which also represents a burden on their health systems.
Considering the criteria of effective, efficient, equitable, safe, and accessible, PICT healthcare systems are mostly inadequate.
The inadequate healthcare systems in PICTs disproportionately affect mothers, children, and those living in rural areas.
Inadequate healthcare in PICTs is unable to prevent preventable deaths from occurring, raising the mortality rates in these countries.
Morbidity also increases in PICT populations due to inadequate healthcare that prolongs the high prevalence of NCDs and exacerbates the burden of communicable diseases.
Key Terms+
Communicable disease—An illness caused by viruses or bacteria that spread between people. These diseases are transmitted not only through direct contact but also through insect bites and the air.
Healthcare worker—Someone who delivers care and services to the sick or ailing, namely doctors and nurses.
Low- to middle-income countries (LMICs)—Countries with a gross national income per capita of $14,005 or less in 2023.
Morbidity—The amount of disease, both communicable and non-communicable, within a population.
Mortality rate—The amount of death that occurs within a particular group of people during a certain period.
Noncommunicable disease (NCD)—A chronic health condition that is not caused by infectious agents and cannot spread from person to person.
Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs)—Several thousand islands that make up a portion of Oceania in the Pacific Ocean and comprise three ethnogeographic groupings: Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia.
Shortage—A situation where the demand for a good exceeds its supply.
The full brief is currently being finalized and will be published shortly. Stay tuned for updates!
By Brook Vaitohi
Published Winter 2025
Special thanks to Jackie Durfey for editing and research contributions.
