Health is provided to a population of some 210 million people spread over thousands of islands by more than 7000 health centers and 50,000 midwives. We have successfully conquered diseases such as smallpox and we are on our way to overcoming polio and leprosy. Yet, we still have a long way to go. Emerging and re-emerging communicable diseases still remain a great challenge. Respiratory infections and diarrhea continue to take a heavy toll, especially among children.
Many women continue to die needlessly in childbirth.
Coupled with this is the added burden of non-communicable diseases, which are increasing at a fast pace, especially among the old people. The use of tobacco, alcohol and narcotics is an area of concern, while appropriate human resources and the provision of good quality drugs are still deficient. In providing services, finding or training an adequate number of quality personnel with the right expertise and technical skills is a priority. Although some 162 pharmaceutical companies are registered as applying good manufacturing practices, the availability of affordable drugs under WTO rules is fraught with problems which have significant consequences on health. The issue of health financing is also a major problem affecting the poorest families, who have to meet the expenses out of their own pockets and thus spend a disproportionate amount of their income on health.