A new federal agency has been formed to assess the health care needs of the United States insular areas, including the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Guam and the Marshall Islands.
The Saipan Tribune newspaper reports US Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne announced the formation of the new agency at the Insular Areas Health Summit in Honolulu.
Mr Kempthorne says the federal government recognizes its responsibility to help improve health care facilities and the delivery of services in the territories.
