Solomon Islands is an archipelago composed of more than 900 islands grouped in nine provinces situated in the Pacific “ring of fire.” Its location makes the country extremely prone to natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis. Life expectancy increased from 57 in 1990 to 68 years in 2014. There has been a marked decline in the prevalence of malaria and tuberculosis, and overall immunization coverage has improved but remains variable.
Double burden of disease demands increased investment in health systems
With a relatively low reported under-five mortality rate of 28 per 1000 live births and a neonatal mortality rate of just over 12 per 1000 live births in 2015, the country is well-positioned to make progress towards the health-related Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. However, the Solomon Islands is suffering the classic “double burden of disease” with rising noncommunicable diseases and persisting communicable diseases.
Low total health expenditure increased reliance on external sources
The current health expenditure (CHE) as a share of GDP is 4% with 81% of health expenditure funded by the Solomon Islands Government. The out-of-pocket-payment is low at 3.8% of CHE, but the health expenditure by external sources is high at 15% of CHE. Following a decade of substantial external financing to the health sector, external funding began to decline. Substantial increases in health financing from the government are limited due to the modest macroeconomic growth forecast, necessitating the government to prioritize a limited number of high-impact interventions.