Each of Tokelau's three atolls has a small three to four bed hospital which also serves as the health centre for the village. Each of these hospital/ health centres has a staff of three to four nurses and a dental therapist. At present there are General Practitioners on two of the three atolls. Because of the remoteness of the atolls, the Tokelau Government tries to maintain a doctor on each of the atolls.
Until 30 June 2004, health workers were employed by the Tokelau Health Department. Under devolution arrangements, health workers are now employed by the Taupulega or Council of Elders of each atoll. Under the new arrangements reporting lines for locum general practitioners will be to the Council of Elders, although they will have a professional reporting line to the Director of Health.
The health work on the atolls is supported by the National Department of Health which is responsible for:
• Doctor and other health worker recruitment • Overseas training of health workers • Purchase of drugs, equipment and supplies • Oversight of standards, professional development and support • Managing the patient referral scheme for those who need treatment in Samoa or New Zealand • Development of health polices and programmes • Surveillance and monitoring of diseases • Contact with international and regional agencies such as WHO and SPC. • Management of the overall health budget.
Most of the staff of the National Health Department work on the atolls. The x-ray service for the whole of Tokelau is located in Nukunonu. The scanning service for the whole of Tokelau is located in Atafu. There are no laboratory services in Tokelau. Pharmaceuticals and supplies are ordered regularly from New Zealand or Apia and are shipped direct to the atoll requesting them.
A typical Tokelauan lagoon
Three staff are based in Apia, Samoa to provide liaison services for Tokelau with the purchase of pharmaceuticals, medical supplies and equipment, and to assist patients referred to health services in Samoa or New Zealand under a patient referral scheme which provides access for Tokelauans to the secondary and tertiary health services. Services in Samoa are provided either from the National Hospital or from a private hospital called MedCen. In New Zealand, Tokelauans are most frequently referred to services provided by Capital and Coast or Hutt District Health Boards.
Ideally locums should be prepared to come for six months or longer, although shorter attachments are considered from time to time. General Practitioners and their families are provided with the cost of return fares to Tokelau from New Zealand. On the atolls, they are provided with furnished accommodation as part of the package and a good weekly salary. Income tax of 16 percent is paid on this income. The accommodation is fully plumbed, with flushing toilet, and cooking facilities and clothes washing machine.
Contact Information
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To apply, you must be registered, or eligible for registration, with the Medical Council of New Zealand.
The information on these pages was accurate at the time of listing. As some detail may have since changed, NZLocums recommends the information be used as a guideline only.
