Medical treatment on Norfolk Island is covered by Australian Medicare, emergency medical treatment will be covered by Medicare. Please bring your Medicare, Pensioner, and/or Healthcare cards with you to the island.
If you need to be medically evacuated from the Island, you will be transferred from Norfolk Island’s health facility to the closest, appropriate mainland hospital. For those with a Medicare card, the cost of the medivac will be covered by the Australian Government.
Visitors who do not have a Medicare card are highly advised to obtain private travel insurance.
Norfolk Island is similar in size to a lot a small rural towns in Australia and likewise has medical facilities similar to those available in such towns. We have a small hospital and a General Practitioner clinic with three to four doctors, nurses and some allied health staff providing care, and dealing with all presenting emergencies and managing inpatients. Limited pathology and x-ray services are available with some tests having to be sent to mainland Australia for processing. There is no operating theatre. Emergency surgical patients and seriously ill patients are evacuated to mainland Australia.
We strongly advise that you pack enough medication for your entire stay on the island, as the pharmacy on the island may not stock what you need. The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) applies on Norfolk Island for those with a Medicare card and NDSS card for that service. There is a community pharmacy on the island for prescription filling. Please check ahead, as they may not stock all possible medications. They can be contacted on +672 3 24201, and are called “Burnt Pine Pharmacy”.
To minimise the spread of viruses such as COVID-19 we recommend that you bring your own supply of hand sanitiser and approved face masks as the supplies on Island may be depleted.
There is a St John Ambulance service on the island.
Please phone the hospital for advice on services and equipment hire.
For further information, click here
