Health in the Federated States of Micronesia

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The Human Rights Measurement Initiative finds that the Federated States of Micronesia are fulfilling 94.9% of what it should be fulfilling for the right to health based on its level of income.^[1] When looking at the right to health with respect to children, the Federated States of Micronesia achieve 97.1% of what is expected based on their current income.^[1] In regards to the right to health amongst the adult population, the country achieves only 91.9% of what is expected based on the nation's level of income.^[1] The Federated States of Micronesia fall into the "good" category when evaluating the right to reproductive health because the nation is fulfilling only 95.8% of what the nation is expected to achieve based on the resources (income) it has available.^[1]

Life expectancy at birth in the Federated States of Micronesia was 66 for men and 69 for women in 2018.^[2][3]

Pingelap in Pohnpei State is notable for the prevalence of an extreme form of color blindness called achromatopsia, and known locally as maskun.^[4][5] Approximately 5% of the atoll's 3000 inhabitants are afflicted.^[4][5]

The healthcare system developed under the US naval administration after World War II when the US Navy sponsored students to train as medical and nurse assistants in Guam. There was a program of dispensary building in the 1960s, followed by the construction of hospitals, both financed and staffed by the US government. Under the Pacific Island Health Care Program patients were sent to Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawaii for treatment not available in Micronesia. After independence the government had difficulty in meeting these costs, and cut back on local facilities in order to pay for referrals, which still had financial and technical support from the United States.^[6]

Total expenditure on health in the country was $473 per head in 2014. This was about 13.7% of GDP.^[7]

Hospitals in the Federated States of Micronesia.^[8]

• Chuuk State Hospital in Weno in Chuuk State
• Kosrae State Hospital in Tofol, Lelu municipality on Kosrae island in Kosrae state
• Pohnpei State Hospital in Kolonia on Pohnpei in Pohnpei State
• Yap State Hospital in Colonia on Yap in Yap State
• Genesis Hospital, Pohnpei, a private 36-bed hospital

These hospitals have a total of 362 beds. Tertiary health services are generally referred outside the country.

In the territory there are also 5 health centers and 92 dispensaries.^[9]

A report of 5 April 2022 announced that some 40 doctors and nurses at Yap State Hospital complained to the state governor, Jesse Salalu, of severe understaffing, ineffective recruitment of staff, lack of contracts, and the Yap State Legislature's refusal to release JEMCO-approved Office of Insular Affairs grant funds for wage increases.^[10]

The governor refused to meet with a delegation of health professionals on 29 March 2022, and a large number of staff submitted resignations. The governor declared a state of emergency, saying "There is no sufficient pool of qualified nurses and doctors available on island for immediate recruitment to help prevent or minimize disruptions to the operation and services of the hospital". The emergency status allows the Department of Health Services (DHS) in collaboration with Waab Community Health Center to relocate human resources to the main hospital.