What actually happens to travelers here.
Drink bottled or properly treated water. Skip ice at budget venues and street vendors. Brush your teeth with bottled water where tap is questionable.
Routine care is available in major cities; complex trauma, cardiac, or surgery typically requires air evacuation to a regional hub. Travel insurance with $250K+ evacuation coverage is essential.
The system.
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: ★☆☆☆☆ Very Limited
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.
Papua New Guinea is not a medical tourism destination. For any significant medical needs, evacuation to Cairns or Brisbane, Australia is standard.
Where to actually go.
Best hospital in PNG. Private facility with reasonable standards. 24/7 emergency department. CT scanner and surgical capabilities. Preferred by expats and international organizations.
Largest public hospital. Severely overcrowded and under-resourced. Use only if Pacific International Hospital is unavailable.
Main hospital for the second-largest city. Government-run with limited resources.
Finding what you need.
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.
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.
Available over the counter
- paracetamol
- ibuprofen
- oral rehydration salts
- insect repellent (DEET-based)
- antimalarials
- water purification tablets
- antacids
Useful pharmacy phrases
- Mi nidim marasin bilong het i pen
- Bel bilong mi i pen
- Mi gat allergy
- Haus marasin i stap we?
- Mi nidim dokta
Chains you'll see
- 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
- 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.
What you can't bring in.
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.
Deep-dive guides for this country's restrictions: CBD · Opioids
Illegal with severe penalties.
Carry a doctor's letter. Keep in original packaging. Declare at customs.
Legal locally but restricted in some areas of Port Moresby. Not a tourist concern but widely used.
If something breaks.
Availability: Very limited. A few dental clinics in Port Moresby. Pacific International Hospital has dental services.
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.
What you actually need.
🛡️ Recommended
Average cost: $50-90/week
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.
Filing a 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.
What it costs out of pocket.
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| Doctor visit (private) | $30-80 |
| ER visit | $80-300 |
| Overnight hospital stay | $100-400 |
| Ambulance | $50-200 |
Costs at PIH are moderate. Government hospitals are cheaper but quality is much lower. Bring USD or AUD cash as backup.
When local won't cut it.
Primary destination: Cairns, Australia
Secondary destination: Brisbane, Australia
Typical cost band: $30,000-100,000
Common providers: Global Rescue, MedJet, International SOS, CareFlight Australia
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.
What to get done before you fly.
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.
The Bali belly prevention guide.
Tap water: Not safe — bottled 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
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.
In crisis abroad.
English / international line: 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.
International crisis support: findahelpline.com — crisis lines in 130+ countries.
Getting around with mobility needs.
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.
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.
Entry rules + local status.
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.
Papua New Guinea travel health, answered.
What we checked.
- US Department of State — travel advisory for this country
- CDC Travelers' Health
- WHO Western Pacific
- Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Smartraveller)
- US Embassy Port Moresby