MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands' visitors must have medical insurance.

The Falklands Immigration Department has reminded visitors to the Islands to take out adequate medical insurance.

Entitlement to treatment by the Falkland Islands Government health service is open to people residing in the Falklands who:

- are Falkland Islanders (including those who have been naturalised and/or been granted Falklands status), or - have been granted a Permanent Residence Permit, or - have been granted a Residence Permit or Work Permit enabling them to stay in the Falkland Islands for a period of six months or more, or - are covered by a reciprocal health care agreement with the Falkland Islands (currently such an agreement only exists with the United Kingdom Government).

A spokesperson for the Immigration Department said, "...individuals seeking to enter the Falklands who do not fall into one of these categories require personal medical insurance which provides for adequate medical insurance which should cover for medical air evacuation to a third country, treatment and return home to country of origin."

All other categories are not entitled to free treatment and will be expected to meet the costs of their treatment together with associated administrative and travel (medical evacuation) expenses.

Non-entitled categories include:

- Tourists and visitors (unless a British citizen normally resident in the UK) - Merchant seamen, fishermen and crew of ships (unless normally resident in the UK and entitled to National Health Service treatment).

Residents of the UK who are entitled to receive medical treatment on the NHS are covered during their time in the Falklands by a reciprocal healthcare arrangement; however, they are not covered for travel to and from the Falklands. The Immigration Department spokesperson said, "It is therefore strongly recommended that UK residents also hold adequate travel insurance which should include repatriation to the UK.

The spokesperson advised, "...if you are expecting a visit from overseas, whether it be from family, friends, or a business acquaintance, you should remind them of the requirement for adequate medical insurance.

"Such insurance should be arranged in the traveller's country of origin before travelling as there is little provision to obtain satisfactory insurance after arrival in the Islands.

"Individuals arriving without adequate medical insurance run the risk of having their visit cut short by the Immigration authorities." (PN)