Health care in Pacific territories to improve under coordinated effort

A new federal agency has been formed to assess the health care needs of the U.S. insular areas, including the CNMI.

The Interagency Coordinated Assets for Insular Health Response will develop a priority list of actions, specific to each of the insular areas, that addresses the most critical health care needs.

Each insular area will prepare a report and submit it to the Interagency Group on Insular Areas by June 2009.

The insular areas taking part in the agency are the CNMI, Guam, American Samoa, U.S. Virgin Islands, Palau, Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands.

Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne announced yesterday the formation of the agency at the Insular Areas Health Summit taking place in Honolulu, Hawaii.

“I want to assure you that the federal government recognizes its role and responsibilities in helping you improve the state of health care facilities and the delivery of health services in the insular areas,” Kempthorne said in his opening remarks at the two-day summit. “That is why we—your federal partners—are here today to listen and learn and explore strategies for helping you to advance your health care sector.”

The task force will be established within the Interagency Group on Insular Areas, established by President Bush on May 8, 2003. Members will include representatives from the Department of Health and Human Services, Defense, Veterans Affairs and the Interior.

Kempthorne, Veterans Affairs Secretary James B. Peake and two ranking officials from the Defense and Health and Human Services departments said their pact will raise the level of care in the territories.

The pact follows the release this month of an Interior Department inspector general report that spotlighted dilapidated facilities, overworked personnel and an inadequate supply of medicines and specialized care in the territories.

Gov. Felix Camacho of Guam offered telling examples of the state of health care in U.S. territories, which also include the U.S. Virgin Islands in the Caribbean. He said his constituents are suffering from abnormally high rates of diabetes, liver disease and cancer, but Guam has too few hospital beds, offers no radiation treatments for cancer patients and no kidney transplant services.

Moreover, he said many residents seek care in the Philippines and often cannot obtain the prescription medicines they need.

In an interview, Camacho said he is concerned that the next administration will de-emphasize the agreement. But Kempthorne and Peake said it will outlive the changeover because career civil servants who strongly support the initiative are overseeing it.

Kempthorne added that the combined heft of the four agencies will help efforts to gain approval in Congress and with White House budget officials.

Kempthorne also announced several funding initiatives, including $834,000 to strengthen the Guam Memorial Hospital’s exterior walls and expand its medical supply warehouse, and $100,000 to the American Pacific Nursing Leaders Council to establish an administrative office at the University of Guam. It was also announced that $4.5 million has been awarded for the construction of a clinic on Guam to serve the health needs of veterans there and in other insular areas.

The Federated States of Micronesia will received $21.5 million in fiscal year 2009 Compact of Free Association funds, which will help pay for the day-to-day costs of hospital operations, salaries of medical professionals, replacing medical equipment and operating clinics on the islands of Chuuk, Pohnpei, Kosrae and Yap. Palau also received compact funding.

Department of Public Health Secretary Joseph Kevin Villagomez is representing the CNMI at the summit. Other island leaders include Gov. Togiola Tulafono of American Samoa; Gov. Felix Camacho of Guam; U.S. Virgin Islands Health Commissioner Vivian Ebbesen Fludd; President Manny Mori of the Federated States of Micronesia; President Litokwa Tomeing of the Marshall Islands; Vice President Elias Chin of Palau; Hawaii’s Lt. Gov. James Aiona; U.S. Virgin Islands Delegate Donna M. Christensen, M.D.; and American Samoa Delegate Eni F.H. Faleomavaega. [B][I](With AP)[/I][/B]