Seabourn Ship Brings Medical Aid to Remote Chilean Island

When the Seabourn Pursuit called at Robinson Crusoe Island in Chile’s Juan Fernández Islands on April 4, it delivered more than passengers, according to a company press release. The visit also gave local residents access to essential medical services that had been unavailable for several months.

“Seabourn Pursuit had the opportunity to give back to a community we visit,” said Dr. Nicolaas van der Merwe, senior doctor on the Seabourn Pursuit.

Located around 500 miles west of Santiago in the South Pacific, Robinson Crusoe Island has been without a working X-ray machine since February. As a result, residents in need of diagnostic imaging were forced to travel long distances to the mainland.

Before the ship’s arrival, local health authorities reached out to request support in addressing a growing number of patients waiting for X-ray examinations.

“It was a privilege to work alongside the local medical team, and the gratitude from patients and families is something our crew will always remember.” van der Merwe said.

During the visit, the ship’s medical team carried out X-ray scans for residents aged between four and 71. The images were analyzed through Seabourn’s telemedicine partner, HealthcareLive. This allowed local healthcare providers to proceed with diagnoses and treatment plans that had been delayed for months due to the lack of equipment.