Brunei Darussalam - Health

The state provides free medical care and remote regions are served by mobile clinics and a flying doctor service; there is also a school health service. As of 1996, there were eight hospitals (four of which are run by the government). Medical personnel in 1991 included 197 physicians. In 1989, there were 8 pharmacists and 30 dentists. The death rate went from 4.2 per 1,000 people in 1974 to 5.2 per 1,000 in 1999. In 1999, the infant mortality rate was 22.8 per 1,000 live births. Life expectancy in 1999 was estimated at 71.8 years. In 1990, 96% of the population had access to health care services and 90% had access to safe drinking water. During 1994, 92% of the country's children were immunized against measles. Malaria has been eradicated from Brunei (although it remains a problem in adjacent Sarawak) and cholera is close to nonexistent. There is, however, still some risk of filariasis, tuberculosis, typhoid fever, and intestinal flu. In 1996, there were six new cases of AIDS reported. As of 1999, the number of people living with HIV/AIDS was estimated at fewer than 100.