🏥 Healthcare Overview

System: Government-run public healthcare with very limited capacity. National Referral Hospital in Honiara is the main facility. Provincial hospitals provide basic care. Outer islands have clinics with minimal staffing and supplies. Healthcare infrastructure is severely underdeveloped.

Quality: ★☆☆☆☆ (1/5)

Healthcare is extremely limited. The National Referral Hospital in Honiara is the only facility with reasonable capacity but is often overcrowded and under-resourced. Provincial hospitals are basic. Outer islands have aid posts with minimal supplies. Specialist care is virtually nonexistent. Medical evacuation to Australia is standard for serious cases. English is an official language but Pijin is more commonly spoken.

💡 Medical Tourism

Not a medical tourism destination. Solomon Islands is a destination for diving, WWII history, and cultural tourism. Travelers should be fully self-sufficient for medical needs.

🏨 Hospitals & Clinics Near Tourist Areas

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

National Referral Hospital 🗣️ English spoken

📍 Near: Honiara (capital)

📞 +677 23600

Main hospital in the country. Emergency department available but often overcrowded. Limited specialist equipment. English spoken by doctors, Pijin by most staff.

Good Samaritan Hospital (Helena Goldie Hospital) 🗣️ English spoken

📍 Near: Munda, Western Province

📞 +677 61142

Church-run hospital near popular dive sites. Basic care only. Useful for Western Province visitors.

Gizo Hospital 🗣️ English spoken

📍 Near: Gizo, Western Province

📞 +677 60224

Provincial hospital. Basic emergency care. Near popular dive and island-hopping areas.

💊 Pharmacy Guide

Access: limited

Hours: Pharmacies in Honiara open 8am-5pm weekdays. Very few pharmacies outside the capital. Hospital pharmacies may have limited stock.

Prescription rules: Prescription enforcement is inconsistent. Some medications available over the counter that would require prescriptions elsewhere. However, stock is very limited so availability is the main issue. Bring all prescription medications from home.

Available Over-the-Counter

  • paracetamol
  • ibuprofen
  • oral rehydration salts
  • insect repellent
  • antimalarial medications
  • antiseptic cream
  • antihistamines
  • bandages and wound care

🗣️ Useful Pharmacy Phrases

💡 Handy phrases at the pharmacy

  • I need headache medicine: Mi nidim marasin blong hed
  • I have a stomachache: Bele blong mi i soa
  • I have allergies: Mi garem allergy
  • Where is the nearest pharmacy?: Wea nao famasi i stap?
  • I need a doctor: Mi nidim dokta

💡 Tips

Bring all necessary medications from home. Pharmacy stock is very limited and unreliable. Medications may be expired or counterfeit in informal outlets. Only purchase from hospital pharmacies or licensed pharmacies in Honiara. Insect repellent with DEET is essential for malaria prevention.

🏪 Pharmacy Chains You’ll See

Look for these storefronts:

  • Point Cruz Pharmacy — Located near Point Cruz area. Honiara
  • National Referral Hospital Pharmacy — Hospital pharmacy. Honiara
  • Star Pharmacy — Star signage. Honiara

💊 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 commonly available medication. May be sold as individual tablets.
  • ibuprofen → Ibuprofen / Nurofen
    Less commonly stocked. Bring from home if needed.
  • loperamide (anti-diarrheal) → Imodium / Loperamide
    May not be available. Bring from home.

💉 Medications & Restrictions

Carry a doctor's letter for all prescription medications. Keep medicines in original packaging. Bring a comprehensive travel medical kit as pharmacies may not have what you need.

Controlled / Restricted Substances

🚫 Watch out for these

  • ⚠️ Opioid medications — Controlled substance. Carry doctor's letter and keep in original packaging.
  • 🚫 Cannabis/CBD products — Illegal. Do not bring any cannabis products.
  • 🚫 Amphetamines/stimulants — Strictly prohibited. Carry documentation for ADHD medications.

🦷 Dental Care

Availability: Very limited. Basic dental services at the National Referral Hospital in Honiara. No private dental clinics of international standard.

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

Dental care is extremely basic. Only emergency extractions and basic procedures available. No cosmetic or advanced dentistry.

🦷 Dental emergency?

Go to the National Referral Hospital dental clinic in Honiara. Outside Honiara, dental care is essentially unavailable.

🛡️ Travel Insurance

⚠️ Strongly recommended

Average cost: $30-60/week

💡 Tip

Absolutely essential. Medical evacuation to Australia is very expensive and may be the only option for serious conditions. Ensure policy covers medical evacuation with no sub-limits. Diving and adventure sports coverage is important. Remote island travel adds significant risk.

📋 How to File an Insurance Claim

Pay upfront for all medical care. Facilities may not provide detailed receipts so request itemized documentation. Keep all records. File claims with your insurer after returning home. Communication challenges may require patience when obtaining documentation.

💵 Typical Out-of-Pocket Costs

Estimated cash prices (USD):

  • Doctor visit (private clinic): $20-50
  • ER visit (no admission): $50-200
  • Overnight hospital stay: $100-300
  • Ambulance call-out: $30-80

Costs are approximate and relatively low but facilities are basic. Solomon Islands Dollar (SBD) is local currency. Few facilities accept credit cards.

🚁 Medical Evacuation

Medical evacuation is extremely important given the limited healthcare. Evacuation to Australia is the standard for serious cases. Outer island evacuations add complexity and cost. Helicopter or charter plane may be needed from remote areas.

Primary destination: Brisbane, Australia

Secondary destination: Suva, Fiji or Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

Typical cost band: $50,000-150,000

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

💉 Vaccinations

Required

  • 🔴 Yellow Fever (only if arriving from a yellow fever endemic country)

Recommended

  • 🟡 Hepatitis A
  • 🟡 Hepatitis B
  • 🟡 Typhoid
  • 🟡 Malaria prophylaxis (strongly recommended)
  • 🟡 Japanese Encephalitis (for rural/extended stays)
  • 🟡 Rabies (for extended stays or animal contact)

Malaria is endemic throughout the Solomon Islands, including Honiara. Antimalarial prophylaxis is strongly recommended. Consult a travel medicine specialist before departure. Dengue fever is also present.

🚰 Water & Food Safety

❌ Tap water is NOT safe — drink bottled water only

Tap water is not safe to drink anywhere in the Solomon Islands. Always use bottled, boiled, or purified water. Even in Honiara, water treatment is unreliable. Bring water purification tablets or a portable filter for outer island travel. Avoid ice unless made from purified water.

Food Safety Tips

Exercise caution with all food. Eat freshly cooked, hot food. Avoid raw vegetables and salads unless you can verify they were washed with purified water. Fresh tropical fruit you peel yourself is safe. Fish and root vegetables (taro, sweet potato) are staples. Be cautious with reef fish due to ciguatera poisoning risk in certain areas.

🧠 Mental Health Resources

🆘 Crisis Line: No dedicated crisis hotline

International crisis support: Contact your embassy for assistance

English-speaking therapists: Virtually none. Some counseling through NGOs and church organizations.

Mental health services are extremely limited. The National Referral Hospital has a small psychiatric unit. For any serious mental health needs, evacuation may be necessary.

♿ Accessibility

Accessibility infrastructure is virtually nonexistent. Roads are unpaved outside Honiara. Most buildings lack wheelchair access. The country is extremely challenging for travelers with mobility impairments.

Hospital accessibility: National Referral Hospital has minimal accessibility features. Most health facilities are not wheelchair accessible.

Accessible transport: No accessible public transport. Roads are rough and unsealed. Inter-island travel is by small boats and light aircraft, neither of which are accessible.

💡 Accessibility tips

The Solomon Islands is extremely challenging for travelers with mobility impairments. Honiara is the most navigable area but still very limited. Contact tour operators well in advance to discuss specific needs.

🫁 COVID & Respiratory Illness

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

Mask policy: No mask mandates. Some health facilities may request masks.

Testing availability: Limited COVID testing available at National Referral Hospital.

COVID restrictions have been lifted. Health infrastructure remains limited regardless of COVID status.

🚨 Emergency Contacts

🆘 Emergency: 999 (police), 911 (fire/ambulance)

📚 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.