Repeat health testing to be phased out

If plans push through, the Department of Public Health may stop requiring nonresident workers to get tested annually for various diseases, starting next year.

Dr. Richard Brostrom, DPH medical director, said yesterday that the Commonwealth Health Center has conducted about 200,000 medical examinations since 1996—a significant number considering the population size in the CNMI. This is caused mainly by the requirement for nonresident workers to undergo an annual physical exam. There are over 30,000 alien workers in the CNMI.

Brostrom said the department has found no benefit from repeated testing for certain diseases such as HIV, syphilis and tuberculosis, after a worker’s first year of employment in the Commonwealth.

He added that there is also minimal benefit for those with normal chest X-rays to get an X-ray annually, after their second year of employment.

“These tests cost money. Considering the current economic situation, we believe that we should not be spending our funds on unnecessary tests. Instead, we should save our money or use it to improve health care programs for the workers,” Brostrom said during his presentation at the Governor’s 2nd Annual Health and Safety Conference at Dai-Ichi Hotel yesterday.

Testing for HIV and syphilis at the Commonwealth Health Center costs $20 each. PPD skin test for tuberculosis costs $45, and an X-ray, $30. Other tests are for tetanus, $30; and hepatitis B, $25. A flu shot costs $25.

He added that Public Health is looking at improving its delivery of essential preventive health care, including the administration of flu shots and vaccinations for hepatitis B, tetanus, and measles.

For his part, Public Health Secretary James Hofschneider said the major health issues in the CNMI are largely preventable.

He cited vehicular or pedestrian accidents, food-borne illnesses, tuberculosis, tetanus, inadequate prenatal care, and non-Federal Drug Administration approved prescription medication.

He stressed that the average number of tetanus cases found in the CNMI every year is “one too many,” noting that the United States—with over 30 million people—posts less than 50 tetanus cases annually.

“Tetanus is very costly to treat; whereas, a vaccine costs only $22.75 and it can protect a person for five to 10 years. I’m sure it costs a lot cheaper if given in the worker’s country of origin,” Hofschneider said.