Vanuatu conducted its Health Facility Readiness Availability (HFRSA) Assessment in October and November 2020. The assessment focused on Hospitals, Health Centers, Dispensaries and Clinics nationwide. These health facilities from both the public and private sector are categorized as Service Delivery Points with roles to deliver on basic to more advanced medical care and treatment including services on Sexual Reproductive Health and Sexual Gender Based Violence, with an ability to administer the Ministry of Health Essential Drug List. These facilities are located across 33 of the 83 islands in the country.

This HFRSA assessment is the first of its kind ever to be done by the MOH in Vanuatu and the wealth of data it has been able to amass from the survey using the latest technology has been missing from MOH policy and planning in decision-making over the last 41 years. The assessment has opened up a window of opportunity for the MOH to reflect back on its strengths and weaknesses over the breadth of health services it has provided to the people of Vanuatu.

The HFRSA assessment has come at an opportune time to inform the Health Sector Strategy, RMNCAH Policy, Strategy and Implementation Plan, and recovery from Tropical Cyclone Harold and preparedness for Covid-19. This has enabled MOH to rethink its course and the best way forward in terms of its limited recurrent funding resources, insufficient trained and skilled health workers, inadequate service delivery support for the more basic services as water, lighting, housing, trainings, supervision, quality of medications and making the right decisions at the right time, to improve the lives of people across Vanuatu, which is fundamental to improve the health status of the population.