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ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION PACIFIC AREA SUPPORT OFFICE Box No. IslandsTrust Territory of the Pacific Department of Health Services ATTN: Dr. John Iaman District Director of Health Services Majuro, Marshall Islands With reference to your inquiry to Dr. Knudson and the meeting at Majuro with Bill Streenan, Dr. Knudson, Dr. Riklon and yourself relative to the payment of costs for travel of the exposed Marshallese, the following sets out our understandings of the funding question: 1. My letter dated February 26, 1973 to the .High Commissioner relates to this question and is quoted in part for your information - “If, as a result of the surveys and as determined by Dr. Conard, ‘it becomes necessary to transport any of the surveyed Marshallese e patients to the United States for further medical treatment, the AEC wiH fund and pay to the Trust Territory the costs of the patients travel and per diem (at the Trust Territory established rate) from their home island to . Kwajalein, and their return from Kwajalein to their home island. These travel and per diem costs wiH also be allowed ~oi ail interpreter accompanying the patients. For the patient 1s and interpreter’s trip from Kwajalein to the U,nitccl States and return to Kwajalein, the AEC will fund for and provide all transportation, suitable clothing for the colder climate, food, lodging and miscellaneous travel expenses. “ - 2. Also for your information the following is quoted in part from Jiiej, Secretary/ Treasurer, Rongelap Fallout Survivors bility with that of the Trust Territory with regard to per diem
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payments of patients. At the present time the arrangement is for BNL to pay travel expenses to those patients going to the United States for special treatment such as to the thyroid patients. In order to help the Trust Territory doctors with regular medical care of the people our doctors will sometime recommend that certain people go to Ebeye or Majuro for treatment. The Trust Territory handles the expenses in those cases - not BNL. If we recommend that any of you go to the United States for special treatment you can be sure BNL will take care of your travel expenses. “ Based on the above it is our position that if it is the decision of the AEC physician and yourself, the travel of the patient is related to the radiological exposure, the AEC will fulfill their responsibilities in the above quoted paragraph number 1. However, if it is that the travel is related to the regular medical care of the TT is responsible for those expenses. Hopefully the above mentioned meeting and this letter will clarify our posi- “ tion on the matter and the questions related to your Quarterly Report on PL-5-52, Section 5, will be resolved. Very truly yours,