🏥 Healthcare Overview

System: Severely under-resourced public healthcare system. Port Moresby General Hospital is the main facility. Pacific International Hospital is the primary private option. Rural and highland areas have extremely limited medical access. Over 800 languages spoken — Tok Pisin and English are lingua francas.

Quality: ★☆☆☆☆ (1/5)

Healthcare infrastructure is very limited even in Port Moresby. Pacific International Hospital provides the best standard of care in the country. Government hospitals are severely under-resourced. Outside major towns, medical care is virtually nonexistent. Serious conditions require evacuation to Cairns or Brisbane, Australia.

💡 Medical Tourism

Papua New Guinea is not a medical tourism destination. For any significant medical needs, evacuation to Cairns or Brisbane, Australia is standard.

🏨 Hospitals & Clinics Near Tourist Areas

Recommended facilities for travelers — English-speaking staff available at most listed locations.

Pacific International Hospital (PIH) 🗣️ English spoken

📍 Near: Port Moresby (Boroko)

📞 +675-323-4400

Best hospital in PNG. Private facility with reasonable standards. 24/7 emergency department. CT scanner and surgical capabilities. Preferred by expats and international organizations.

Port Moresby General Hospital 🗣️ English spoken

📍 Near: Port Moresby (city center)

📞 +675-324-8200

Largest public hospital. Severely overcrowded and under-resourced. Use only if Pacific International Hospital is unavailable.

Angau Memorial Hospital 🗣️ English spoken

📍 Near: Lae (Morobe Province)

📞 +675-472-2266

Main hospital for the second-largest city. Government-run with limited resources.

💊 Pharmacy Guide

Access: limited

Hours: Pharmacies in Port Moresby open 8am-5pm weekdays. Very limited outside the capital. Frequent stock shortages.

Prescription rules: Prescription system loosely enforced. Limited medication availability regardless. Bring your own supply of everything you might need.

Available Over-the-Counter

  • paracetamol
  • ibuprofen
  • oral rehydration salts
  • insect repellent (DEET-based)
  • antimalarials
  • water purification tablets
  • antacids

🗣️ Useful Pharmacy Phrases

💡 Handy phrases at the pharmacy

  • I need headache medicine: Mi nidim marasin bilong het i pen
  • I have a stomachache: Bel bilong mi i pen
  • I have allergies: Mi gat allergy
  • Where is the nearest pharmacy?: Haus marasin i stap we?
  • I need a doctor: Mi nidim dokta

💡 Tips

Bring ALL medications you will need for your entire trip. Pharmacies are poorly stocked even in Port Moresby. Counterfeit medications exist. Only use hospital pharmacies or reputable outlets. Antimalarials should be brought from home.

🏪 Pharmacy Chains You’ll See

Look for these storefronts:

  • PIH Pharmacy — Hospital pharmacy. Pacific International Hospital, Boroko, Port Moresby
  • City Pharmacy — Retail chain with pharmacy sections. Multiple locations in Port Moresby and Lae

💊 Common OTC Medications by Local Brand

Knowing the local brand name makes asking for common over-the-counter medications much easier.

  • paracetamol/acetaminophen → Panadol / Paracetamol
    Most widely available medication. Sold at pharmacies and some stores.
  • ibuprofen → Ibuprofen / Brufen
    Available at hospital pharmacies. Limited at retail pharmacies.
  • loperamide (anti-diarrheal) → Imodium
    Bring your own supply. Diarrhea is extremely common for visitors.

💉 Medications & Restrictions

Carry a doctor's letter for all medications in English. Keep all medications in original packaging with pharmacy labels. Bring a complete supply plus extra for potential travel delays. A medical summary of any conditions is recommended.

Controlled / Restricted Substances

🚫 Watch out for these

  • 🚫 Cannabis/CBD products — Illegal with severe penalties.
  • ⚠️ Narcotic medications — Carry a doctor's letter. Keep in original packaging. Declare at customs.
  • ⚠️ Betel nut (buai) — Legal locally but restricted in some areas of Port Moresby. Not a tourist concern but widely used.

🦷 Dental Care

Availability: Very limited. A few dental clinics in Port Moresby. Pacific International Hospital has dental services.

Typical cost range: $20-80 USD for basic procedures

Dental care is very basic outside PIH. Sterilization standards may not meet international norms at government facilities.

🦷 Dental emergency?

Go to Pacific International Hospital for dental emergencies. Bring dental emergency supplies if traveling to remote areas.

🛡️ Travel Insurance

⚠️ Strongly recommended

Average cost: $50-90/week

💡 Tip

Comprehensive medical evacuation insurance is ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL. Evacuation to Australia can cost $30,000-100,000+. Ensure coverage includes highlands trekking, diving, remote area rescue, and political/security evacuation. PNG has significant safety risks — verify your policy carefully.

📋 How to File an Insurance Claim

Pacific International Hospital accepts major credit cards and can process some insurance claims directly. Government hospitals require cash upfront. Obtain itemized receipts. Documentation quality varies — keep your own detailed records. Take photos of all medical documents.

💵 Typical Out-of-Pocket Costs

Estimated cash prices (PGK (Papua New Guinean Kina)):

  • Doctor visit (private clinic): $30-80
  • ER visit (no admission): $80-300
  • Overnight hospital stay: $100-400
  • Ambulance call-out: $50-200

Costs at PIH are moderate. Government hospitals are cheaper but quality is much lower. Bring USD or AUD cash as backup.

🚁 Medical Evacuation

Cairns is the closest major medical hub (2-hour flight from Port Moresby). Evacuation from remote highlands or islands requires multi-stage transport. International SOS and CareFlight have extensive experience in PNG. Delays are common due to weather, logistics, and security.

Primary destination: Cairns, Australia

Secondary destination: Brisbane, Australia

Typical cost band: $30,000-100,000

Common providers: Global Rescue, MedJet, International SOS, CareFlight Australia — compare current quotes and policy terms before relying on any single provider.

💉 Vaccinations

Required

  • 🔴 Yellow Fever (if arriving from endemic area)

Recommended

  • 🟡 Hepatitis A
  • 🟡 Hepatitis B
  • 🟡 Typhoid
  • 🟡 Rabies
  • 🟡 Japanese Encephalitis
  • 🟡 Malaria prophylaxis (essential)
  • 🟡 Routine vaccinations
  • 🟡 Cholera

Malaria is endemic throughout Papua New Guinea including in Port Moresby and coastal areas. Prophylaxis is ESSENTIAL — use atovaquone-proguanil (Malarone), doxycycline, or mefloquine. Dengue, chikungunya, and tuberculosis are also present. Drug-resistant malaria strains exist.

🚰 Water & Food Safety

❌ Tap water is NOT safe — drink bottled water only

Tap water is NOT safe to drink anywhere in Papua New Guinea. Use only bottled, boiled, or purified water at all times. Avoid ice. Use bottled water for brushing teeth. Waterborne diseases are a major risk.

Food Safety Tips

Eat only thoroughly cooked food served hot. Avoid raw vegetables, salads, and unpeeled fruits. Hotel restaurants in Port Moresby are generally safe. Avoid street food. Be very cautious outside major hotels. Peel all fruits yourself.

🧠 Mental Health Resources

🆘 Crisis Line: No dedicated crisis line. Contact Pacific International Hospital: +675-323-4400

International crisis support: Lifeline Australia: +61-13-11-14 (for evacuation situations)

English-speaking therapists: Very few mental health professionals in the country. Some at PIH.

Mental health services are extremely limited. Arrange telehealth support before traveling. PNG has very few psychiatrists for its population.

♿ Accessibility

Accessibility infrastructure is virtually nonexistent in Papua New Guinea.

Hospital accessibility: Pacific International Hospital has basic wheelchair access. Government hospitals have very limited accessibility.

Accessible transport: No accessible public transport. Roads are often unpaved and dangerous. Many areas only accessible by small aircraft.

💡 Accessibility tips

Travel to PNG with a disability presents extreme challenges. Many tourist activities (trekking, diving, cultural tours) involve difficult terrain. A travel companion is strongly recommended. Contact tour operators well in advance.

🫁 COVID & Respiratory Illness

Entry requirements: No COVID testing or vaccination requirements for entry as of 2026.

Mask policy: No mask mandates.

Testing availability: Limited testing available at Pacific International Hospital and some government facilities.

COVID testing and treatment options are very limited. Bring rapid tests.

🚨 Emergency Contacts

🆘 Emergency: 112 (police/general), 111 (ambulance/St John)

📚 Sources & References

Data compiled from official government health sources, WHO, and traveler-reported information.

⚠️ This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional before traveling and verify current entry requirements with official sources.