Republic of Palau Policies and Regulations
Telehealth laws and licensure requirements for the Republic of Palau
Telehealth Laws
The Republic of Palau (ROP) currently does not have laws covering telehealth services.
Licensure Requirements
The Republic of Palau Board of Health Professions is responsible for enforcing and overseeing the certification of health professions in the Republic of Palau in accordance with the Palau Health Professionals Licensing Act (RPPL 5-42).
Board Responsibilities
- Enforce qualification for licensing;
- Develop and enforce reasonable standards for health professional practice qualified education;
- Examine, license, and renew the licenses of duly qualified individuals;
- Develop standards for continued competency of licensees;
- Collect data regarding health professions;
- Implement a disciplinary process;
- Regulate the manner in which health professionals announce their practice to the public;
- Issue limited, temporary, or provisional licenses to practice a health profession temporarily subject to restricted terms and conditions as the Board may impose;
- Annually notify all licensees and certificate holders about changes in laws and regulations regarding health professions practice;
- Submit an annual report to the Minister;
- Maintain records of its proceedings;
- Provide consultation and conduct conferences, forums, studies and research on health professions practice and education;
- Join organizations that develop or regulate licensing and certification examination and promote the improvement of the legal standards of the practice of the various health professions for the protection of the public health, safety and welfare;
- Require that certain health professionals obtain malpractice insurance prior to obtaining-a license.
Contact the Palau Board of Health Professions
Palau Ministry of Health
Ms. Olive Charnoske, olive.charnoske@palauhealth.org
Dr. Greg Dever, gregd@pihoa.org
One Hospital Road
P.O. Box 6027
Koror, RP 96940
680-488-2552 (phone)
680-488-1211 (fax)
Public Health Emergency (PHE) Status and Waivers Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic
On March 17, 2020 the President of the Republic of Palau signed Executive Order 437 urging all government agencies to begin their efforts to collaborate and prepare plans and efforts to prevent and prepare mitigation plans for the likely entry of COVID-19 into the country.
Subsequently, the ROPs Minister of Health in accordance with his authority, certified COVID-19 as an “unavoidable emergency” (Public Health Emergency) through Ministry of Health Directive 60-20 that authorized the access to the Hospital Trust Fund to support all efforts towards this emergency. Since 2020, a number of directives from the Minister of Health have been issued in order to support efforts toward COVID-19 prevention and consequently the treatment and management of COVID-19 in the ROP.
View the Ministry of Health Directives and related reports.
The various Executive Order, declarations and directives do not contain any provisions or waivers on telehealth or licensure.