Health, vaccinations and medical care in Papua New Guinea

Health, insurance and where to be treated

• Vaccinations: A yellow fever certificate is required if you are arriving from a country with a risk of transmission. Hepatitis A and B, typhoid, tetanus and polio are recommended; check with a travel clinic 6 to 8 weeks before departure.
• Malaria and dengue: Transmission is year-round below 1,800 m, which includes Port Moresby, Lae and the coast and islands. Take prophylaxis - Malarone or doxycycline are the usual choices - and use a repellent with a high DEET content, morning and evening especially. Dengue circulates in the same areas and there is no prophylaxis for it, so the repellent is doing double duty.
• Tap water: Not drinkable. Bottled or boiled only, and that includes ice and brushing your teeth outside a good hotel.
• Medical care: Pacific International Hospital (PIH) at 3 Mile in Port Moresby is the private facility used by foreign visitors, with an emergency department and intensive care. The public Port Moresby General Hospital is chronically short of supplies. Serious cases are stabilised locally and flown out.
• Insurance: Your policy must explicitly cover aeromedical evacuation to Australia - Cairns or Brisbane. In-country capability for major trauma or a cardiac event is limited, and an unplanned medical flight costs more than any holiday. This is the single most important thing to get right before you travel.