How does healthcare work in Tonga, and what travel insurance, health insurance or expat insurance do you need?

What is the quality of healthcare in Tonga?

• Tonga has reasonably good healthcare, but care is quite limited.
• When you get sick or injured, you may need a medical evacuation,
• There are no recompression chambers. You have to go to New Zealand to find a diving chamber.
• All medicines are imported, so they may not be in stock. It's best to bring your own medicines, just to be sure.

How does the public healthcare system work in Tonga?

• Tongans are entitled to free healthcare. Foreigners have to pay a fixed price for access to care (fortunately it is quite cheap).
• There are around fourteen health centres and four hospitals, each serving around 7,200 people.
• The healthcare facilities provide limited care and there are particularly few emergency care facilities.

How does the private healthcare system work in Tonga?

• There are a few private healthcare facilities and some traditional healers.

How is the family doctor or general practitioner arranged in Tonga?

• There is only one GP clinic in Tonga – the Village Mission Clinic.
• Several GPs from all over the world come to work in this clinic for short periods of time.

How is the dental care and dentist arranged in Tonga?

• Dental care is mainly provided by the Vaiola Hospital in Nuku’alofa and a few school and health clinics.
• There are very limited private dental clinics.

How is pregnancy and maternity care arranged in Tonga?

• There is maternity care, but it is very limited. It is therefore safer to spend your pregnancy abroad.

How safe or unsafe is a trip or stay in Tonga?

What should you pay attention to in terms of safety in Tonga?

• Crime rates in Tonga are not too bad, but petty crime is not uncommon. The situation is comparable to Australia and New Zealand.
• The risk to become a victim of crime increases especially in the evenings. Think of robberies, sexual crime, burglaries, etc.
• There are also natural hazards in Tonga. Volcanoes can erupt and tsunamis can occur.

What should you look out for in terms of diseases in Tonga?

• In Tonga you run the risk of mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue, chikungunya and zika. So protect yourself well!
• It is recommended to only drink filtered or bottled water.
• Also watch out for ciguatera and scombroid poisoning from eating reef fish. If you think you have any symptoms, seek medical help immediately.

What should you pay attention to when it comes to traffic in Tonga?

• Driving in Tonga is quite relaxed. On Tongatapu, Vava’u, Lifuka and Foa the roads are reasonably good.
• The roads are often unpaved, but luckily for all drivers still reasonable.
• You share the road with many others: pedestrians, children and animals, which makes driving at night dangerous.
• There are no traffic lights! You would think that would be nice and easy, but make sure you pay attention. Every driver is also required to stop at roundabouts.
• Petrol stations can only be found in the big cities.

What are the best insurance options for backpacking, traveling, doing an internship, studying, volunteering, or working in Tonga?

• Is the trip to Tonga and your return sufficiently covered? Are you sufficiently covered before, during and after your activities? Which insurance best suits your trip and your activity?
• Insurance for backpacking and traveling in Tonga
• Insurance for studying in Tonga
• Insurance for internships in Tonga
• Insurance for volunteering in Tonga
• Insurance for digital nomads or paid work in Tonga

What types of insurance should you get if you're planning to emigrate, work as an expat, or live in Tonga?

• It is important to have good international health insurance, because of the risk of medical evacuation and high costs. 
• Make sure your insurance covers medical evacuation as well as coverage in neighboring countries.
• International health insurance for Tonga
• International travel insurance for Tonga
• International life insurance for Tonga
• International income protection insurance for Tonga