The Commonwealth of Dominica (not to be confused with the Dominican Republic) is located in the Lesser Antilles in the eastern Caribbean Sea. Dominica is a small island nation of about 70,000 inhabitants. The country is located between the islands of Guadeloupe to the north, and Martinique to the south. It has historically been an agricultural center exporting bananas, coffee, flowers, soaps and tropical fruits to Europe and North America. Unlike its other Caribbean neighbors, Dominica has not seen the masses of tourists flock to its island. While this has meant that the economy has grown slower, it has also helped its income to remain more evenly distributed and well regulated. Of course with such natural beauty it was only a matter of time before the secret got out and tourism started to pour in. With the influx of tourists, Dominica is beginning to become a more service-oriented based economy. Tourists are attracted to the island’s abundant rivers, lush jungle vegetation, rugged volcanic mountains, crystal waters and abundant sea life, all still in pristine condition. As a former British commonwealth, English is universally spoken, along with a few creole dialects common to the region. Per capita income is high by international standards at about $4,900 (US), education is given high priority, healthcare is free for all residents and international private investing is strongly promoted by the government. All of these add up to a promising future for the small island nation.

Dominica Health System

The public healthcare sector in Dominica is regulated by the Ministry of Health (MOH) to provide easy access to quality care at an affordable cost to all. With such a small population to provide for, the MOH is able to oversee financing, pharmaceutical procurement and distribution, building’s safety and maintenance, personnel, quality assurance and disaster preparedness and management for the entire country. This short chain of command keeps costs down and maximizes return on investment by the government. While highly efficient when compared to most other developing countries, the relative size of the country does limit health care services somewhat.

In general, the healthcare services available in Dominica are sufficient to handle common ailments and accidents. Doctors are well trained and common medicines are regularly available. While facilities are not on par with most ultra-modern western style hospitals, basic equipment and skilled technicians are available. Normal procedures are routinely handled, but some specialty treatments remain unavailable and will require treatment abroad, either to a nearby island or in some cases the United States.

The doctor to patient ratio is 5:10,000, much lower than most developed countries but general health indicators are still very good compared to other places in the region. Thanks to an excellent record of infant immunization, a full 100 per cent, preventable diseases have been practically eradicated in the country, malnutrition is not an issue either, in fact efforts are being made to curb child obesity. One unusual statistic is the incredibly high percentage of the population over 100 years of age, about 0.03 per cent. The Ross University School of Medicine in Portsmouth is currently conducting a study to attempt to discern the secret to the longevity of these centenarians

The public primary healthcare network is comprised of two district hospitals, Grand Bay Hospital and Marigot Hospital, as well as about 50 health clinics which offer pediatrics, child care consultation, OB/GYN and birthing, mental health care and general practitioners with diagnostic capacity. When required, referral is made for secondary care to one of the hospitals in the capitol, Roseau. Those hospitals are able to perform the full range of above services as well as dialysis, ambulance and emergency care, surgery, rehabilitation, psychiatric evaluation and assistance and imaging services. A hyperbaric chamber for divers suffering with decompression illness is available at this facility as well.

Only one private hospital is available in Dominica, along with a few clinics. Portsmouth Hospital offers limited services at cost to the patient but does not offer the full range of services available at Princess Margaret Hospital.

Dominica Medical Insurance

Because Dominica medical insurance is provided through a universal government initiative, very few locals purchase private coverage. For expatriates and tourists however, private Dominica health insurance coverage or traveler's health insurance is a smart choice since all healthcare facilities in Dominica have the right to deny care to anyone who cannot make payment. Those in need of emergency care may be required to make out of pocket cash payment prior to treatment, other non-critical cases can choose to leave Dominica in search of help elsewhere. Anyone not covered by universal Dominica health insurance who needs emergency air transport will also be expected to arrange payment themselves, for this reason an air-ambulance or emergency repatriation protection plan is a wise investment as the cost for this type of coverage is very low but the service itself is extremely expensive if paid for personally.

Traveler's Information

Travelers from most countries do not require a visa to visit Dominica for less than 21 days. For more details on visas or arranging longer visits, contact your local Dominican Consulate office. Common health issues for travelers include sunburn, heat exhaustion, dehydration and traveler's diarrhea. All should bring common remedies for these illnesses and avoid over-exertion. Drinking water is considered well within the safety limitations set by the World Health Organization and fit for human consumption. Sanitation levels are also very high throughout the island.

Weather is tropical, thus warm and mild. The rainy season is from July to October, though showers can occur at any time of year. The summer months are also the most common time for Dominica to see threat of hurricanes which in the past have brought devastation to the island, tourists may want to plan their trip accordingly.

Expat Medical Insurance

When preparing for a tropical vacation, the last thing anyone wants to worry about is the possibility of an accident or illness. Likewise, expats residing in places such as Dominica rarely prefer to leave the country every time they or anyone in their family requires a visit to the doctor or face large medical bills in case of an emergency trip to hospital. Expat Medical Insurance has solutions to all these problems by offering comprehensive Dominica Medical Insurance and International Health Insurance plans that can be customized to your specific needs. Contact one of our Insurance Experts for a free consultation for full details and pricing.