Medical Treatment
The front entrance to Majuro Hospital in Delap, next to the Capital Building. Photo: Karen Earnshaw
For a small island, the available medical treatment available on Majuro is substantial at Majuro’s hospital in Delap. That said, under-staffing and a huge demand at the hospital leaves many visitors questioning where the huge amount of donor funds to the Ministry of Health and Human Services goes. To visit out-patients, it’s best to go early in the morning (8am or so) and get a number, then go back at the suggested time to see a doctor. Alternately, some locals suggest arriving at the end of the day (about 4pm) when all the morning patients have been seen.
A huge bonus for the hospital is that teams of volunteer doctors visit Majuro regularly. For example, in 2014, Jacque and Jamie Spence’s Canvasback teams visited nine times. Three missions are planned for 2015 … see the Events calendar for dates in January, May, and August.
Majuro Hospital: (692) 625-3632 or 625-3355. Visitors attending the hospital need to first buy a hospital card for $17.50 (the cost of each following visit, including any prescribed medication). Patients are seen on a first come, first served basis. The Hospital also has a dental clinic, however general appointments can take a month.
Pharmacies: Aside from the hospital’s pharmacy there is one private pharmacy called Medi-Source (625-3784), opposite the hospital. It is owned an run by pharmacist and former hospital administrator Sandy Alfred, who is happy to order in specialty drugs or other medical needs.
Island Pride Supermarket and Payless Supermarket carry a range of non-prescription medicines.
Private clinics: There is one private doctor, Filipino Dr. Alex Pinano of Majuro Clinic (625-6455), which is opposite the Marshalls Visitors Authority in Small Island. Dr. Pinano is a Marshallese citizen and has lived in Majuro for a number of decades.
Outer islands: There are health clinics on the outer islands, but these have limited resources.
Health Insurance: Most expatriates on Majuro pay into the government’s ‘Supplemental Health Fund.’ This package includes medevacs to Hawaii, Manila, or Taipei. The program also arranges check-ups at the same places.
