Let’s start with a clear picture. You’re considering the Solomon Islands—perhaps for volunteer work, a research project, or a posting with an international organization. You think of pristine coral atolls, World War II history, and vibrant Melanesian culture. Healthcare is likely the last thing on your mind, but it should be the first thing in your planning.
The Solomon Islands is one of the least developed nations in the Pacific. Its healthcare system is under-resourced, faces immense geographic challenges across nearly 1,000 islands, and is designed to serve its local population with basic primary care. For expatriates, aid workers, missionaries, or sailors making an extended stop, understanding this reality is not about finding quality care—it is about rigorous risk mitigation and survival preparedness.
This guide is not for tourists on short resort stays. It is for the few whose essential work or travel brings them here. We will not discuss “hospitals in the Solomon Islands” in the conventional sense. We will outline the facilities that exist, their profound limitations, and the absolute, non-negotiable protocols you must establish to protect your health and life. This is about managing a high-risk medical environment.
The Hard Reality: A Fragile System with Geographic Barriers
Healthcare in the Solomon Islands is a story of immense challenge. The system is chronically underfunded, with a severe shortage of skilled health workers, especially outside the capital. Medical supplies and essential medicines are often out of stock. Advanced diagnostic equipment (like CT scanners) is non-existent, and specialist services are extremely limited.
The system is structured around Area Health Centres (serving provinces) and smaller Rural Health Clinics. The top referral facility is the National Referral Hospital (NRH) in Honiara on Guadalcanal. This is the country’s only central public hospital. Its capacity is basic; it handles emergencies, general surgery, and inpatient care, but conditions are crowded, resources are strained, and power outages are common.
For an expatriate, the local system has one primary function: emergency stabilization prior to immediate medical evacuation. There is no viable alternative for serious illness or injury.
An Aid Worker’s Perspective: Sarah, a public health advisor with an NGO who completed an 18-month posting, states plainly: “Our security briefing’s medical section was the longest. The rule was: treat any fever as potential malaria until proven otherwise, and assume any injury or illness requiring more than antibiotics and bandages needs evacuation. I visited the National Referral Hospital. The dedication of the staff is incredible, but the gaps in resources are heartbreaking. As a foreigner, your medical plan begins and ends with your medevac provider. Your kit and your protocols are your healthcare.”
Navigating the System: Knowing the Landmarks to Plan Your Exit
Understanding what exists is only to know where you might be taken in a dire emergency while evacuation is being organized.
- The National Referral Hospital (NRH): Located in Honiara. This is the main public hospital and the highest level of care available in the country. It has an emergency department, surgical theaters, and inpatient wards. It operates under constant strain.
- Area Health Centres: Located in provincial capitals like Auki (Malaita), Gizo (Western Province), and Kirakira (Makira). These provide very basic inpatient care and limited emergency services. They refer all serious cases to Honiara.
- Rural Health Clinics & Aid Posts: The most frontline services, often staffed by a nurse or community health worker. They provide immunizations, basic midwifery, and treatment for common illnesses like malaria.
- The Only Pathway for Serious Care: Immediate Medical Evacuation: For any serious condition—major trauma, severe infection (septicemia, complicated malaria), heart issues, abdominal emergencies, or required surgery—the mandatory protocol is urgent air evacuation. The nearest appropriate destinations are Australia (Brisbane), Fiji (Suva), or New Zealand.
A Clear-Eyed Look at Medical Facilities
| Facility Name | Location | Type | Realistic Capabilities in a Crisis | Critical Notes for Foreigners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Referral Hospital (NRH) | Honiara, Guadalcanal | Public Central Hospital | Emergency stabilization, basic trauma care, surgery for common conditions, malaria treatment, maternity. | The highest-level facility. For stabilization only while medevac is arranged. Resources are extremely limited. |
| Kilu’ufi Hospital | Auki, Malaita Province | Public Area Health Centre | Basic emergency care, inpatient wards for minor issues. | Limited. Serious cases require boat/plane transfer to Honiara. |
| Gizo Hospital | Gizo, Western Province | Public Area Health Centre | Basic emergency care, minor surgery. | Serves the Western Province. Severely limited. |
| Rural Health Clinics | Across provinces | Public Primary Care | Basic first aid, malaria testing/treatment, wound dressing, immunizations. | For minor community health needs only. Do not rely on them for any significant care. |
| Private Pharmacies | Honiara (a few) | Private | Sell basic medications; stock is unreliable. | Do not rely on them for any specific prescription drug. Assume it will not be available. |
What Might Be Manageable Locally (With Extreme Caution)?
Only consider local facilities for the following, and only under the direct guidance of your professional medevac provider:
- Diagnosis and initial treatment of uncomplicated malaria (confirm with a reliable rapid test from your own kit).
- Cleaning and suturing of minor, clean cuts.
- Intravenous rehydration for severe dehydration, if you can provide your own IV fluids and supplies.
Your Mandatory Health Preparedness & Survival Protocol
If your work takes you to the Solomon Islands, treat this list as law. Deviation significantly increases the risk of severe illness, disability, or death.
- Secure Elite Medical Evacuation Insurance with 24/7 Support: This is your single most important asset. You need a policy from a top-tier provider specializing in remote and high-risk environments (e.g., International SOS, Global Rescue, World Nomads with Explorer plan). It must guarantee evacuation from the Solomon Islands to a pre-agreed facility in Australia or New Zealand. Coverage minimum: $500,000 USD. Carry the physical card and have the 24/7 alarm center number saved in multiple phones and written on your person.
- Assemble a Professional-Grade Travel Medical Kit: You must be your own primary care provider. Your kit should be prepared with a travel medicine doctor and include:
- Malaria: Multiple courses of Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy (ACT) like Coartem for treatment. Prophylaxis (e.g., Malarone, Doxycycline) is essential.
- Antibiotics: Broad-spectrum (Azithromycin), and strong options for resistant infections (e.g., Ciprofloxacin).
- IV Supplies: Sterile IV cannulas, giving sets, and bags of normal saline.
- Trauma & Wound Care: Hemostatic gauze, tourniquet, steri-strips, sutures, iodine, and plenty of bandages.
- Full Pharmacy: A minimum 6-month supply of all personal prescription medications, plus strong painkillers, anti-nausea, and steroid (prednisone) medications.
- Diagnostics: Multiple rapid diagnostic tests for Malaria, Dengue, and Typhoid.
- Complete Rigorous Pre-Travel Medical Preparation:
- Visit a specialist travel clinic. Essential vaccinations: Yellow Fever (if coming from endemic area), Hepatitis A & B, Typhoid, Rabies (full pre-exposure series highly recommended), Japanese Encephalitis (risk exists), and ensure all routine vaccinations (MMR, Tdap) are up to date.
- Obtain a prescription for a full course of standby emergency antibiotics and discuss detailed scenarios for their use.
- Establish a Clear Chain of Command:
- In any medical situation, your first call is to your medevac provider’s 24/7 alarm center. They will make all decisions about if/when to go to a local facility.
- Know the location of the National Referral Hospital only as a potential stabilization point they may direct you to.
- Register with your embassy or high commission in Honiara immediately upon arrival. Provide them your medevac details.
- Establish a local point of contact (your organization’s security officer) who knows your protocol.
- Practice Aggressive Preventive Health Measures:
- Water/Food: Consume only bottled, boiled, or properly filtered water. Eat only food that is cooked and served hot. Peel all fruits and vegetables. Avoid salads, shellfish, and street food.
- Vector Protection: Sleep under an insecticide-treated bed net. Use DEET 30-50% repellent daily. Wear permethrin-treated clothing and long sleeves/pants at dusk and dawn.
- Hygiene: Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer rigorously. Treat all cuts and abrasions immediately to prevent infection.
The Critical Importance of Professional Networks
In an environment with no reliable public information, knowledge shared within the small community of aid workers, UN staff, diplomats, and missionaries is vital. Which clinic has a functional lab? What is the real-time status of the domestic air service for inter-island transfers to Honiara? Which local doctor can be trusted to assist with a stabilization?
This information is exchanged through professional security channels and trusted community forums.
On MyHospitalNow, our forum for hospitals in the Solomon Islands exists as a rare platform for this specific, critical exchange among those who have experience on the ground.
From a Former Volunteer Doctor in Honiara: “The assumption for all international staff is that you will be evacuated for anything serious. The local system is part of the emergency chain, not the treatment plan. On forums, we shared specific alerts: outbreaks of dengue, stockouts of specific antibiotics at the NRH pharmacy, and practical tips on communicating symptoms to local nurses. This isn’t general travel advice; it’s tactical, real-time information for operating in a resource-poor setting.” – Dr. Ben, Medical Volunteer
If your work requires you to go to the Solomon Islands, engaging with this professional community is a key component of your risk assessment.
We host these essential discussions here: MyHospitalNow’s Hospitals in Solomon Islands Community.
Final Word: Acknowledging Risk and Taking Full Responsibility
Working or traveling in the Solomon Islands means accepting a level of medical risk that requires the highest possible degree of personal responsibility and professional-grade preparation. The local healthcare system cannot be relied upon for anything beyond the most basic care.
Your health and safety depend entirely on your own preparations: elite medevac insurance, a comprehensive medical kit, disciplined preventive practices, and a clear, practiced emergency protocol.