Pacific Islands Primary Care Association (PIPCA) is a non-profit organization serving the US-Affiliated Pacific Islands (USAPI). The USAPI includes American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia (Chuuk, Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Yap States), Guam, Republic of Marshall Islands, and Republic of Palau. Although the region is collectively referred to as the USAPI, each island is unique in many ways.
Due to the differences in history, size, population, time zones, connectivity, and relationship to the US, they each have distinct challenges affecting the delivery of primary health care. These challenges differ from those encountered within and among U.S. states. Some of the differences fall upon the lines of territories versus independent countries, although not always. Some have more resources or populations, others have different languages, laws, and people. Their economies are differentiated from Hawaii and the U.S. in that the vast majority of people are low income in which 95-100% are below 200% of the federal poverty level.
PIPCA boasts a varied membership comprising community health centers and associated organizations dedicated to supporting the essential mission of PIPCA. Since 2005, PIPCA has championed the growth and support of the Health Center Program innovative model, which provides high-quality, comprehensive care; eliminates barriers to positive health outcomes; and enables communities to shape their own healthcare journey. Community health centers are an important part of the health care system in the US-Affiliated Pacific Islands (USAPI), providing access to a range of primary care services.
PIPCA plays a key role in supporting these community health centers to improve their operations by strengthening local capacity and expertise. PIPCA supports the improvement and expansion of primary care systems specific to local needs; advocates for local and regional health care issues to expand and improve integrated systems of care; supports the building and sustaining of local and regional capacity in primary health care; and supports collaboration and networking in the region.
The Pacific Islands Primary Care Association is the region-wide association that fosters the work of these critical health centers. Our objective is to promote the development and delivery of accessible, community-driven quality health care. We support existing community health centers, help start new ones, advocate for Pacific Island needs, and address the crucial problems of health care access and quality in the Pacific Islands.
