t inhabited by few persons spread over a considerable region of the Pacific Ocean), medical care for inhabitants of the outlying islands such as Rongelap and Utirix is provided by medical aides who have a level of competence equivalent to that of pharmacist mates or medical assistants. The regional hosptial at Majuro provides better care than that available on the outlying islands, but the care at Majuro is probably below the levelicare delivered in an average hospital on the mainland. The Rongelap population has benefited from the excellent annual medical surveys conducted by the Brookhaven survey team,which are to be supplemented by midyear hematologic surveys in the future. In providing medical care, the Trust Territory has not distinguished between the population exposed to fallout and the unexposed residents of other Pacific island. However, we understand that the Trust Territory is now willing to recognize that the exposed population is distinctive from a medical standpoint and entitled to closer medical surveillance than unexposed populations. The Micronesian Senate Bill is designed primarily to improve the year-round care of the exposed and related populationgof Rongelap and Utirik. . 4. A special joint committee of the Micronesian Congress was created by Public Law No. 4C-33 early in 1972 "to insure that the people of Rongelap and Utirik Atolls receive. . .the best medical treatment available and...compensation for the injuries that they have suffered." In February 1973, Senate 3ill No. 89 (Enclosure 3) was passed by the Micronesian Senate; it was signed into law by the Deputy High Commissioner on April 12, 1973 as Public Law No. 5-52. It provides benefits in the form of regular or emergency transportation to hospitals at Majuro or Ebeye (the latter under construction), per diem expanses, housing and medical care to exposed persons from Rongelap and Utirik atolls, and control persons and an accompanying member of the family. their offspring The class of illness covered by the bill is restricted by the statement that “this section (6 in the bill) shall not be construed to allow persons the aforesaid benefits if the ailment’ or complaint could have been treated at the person's place of residence by the health personnel available." The annual cost to the government under the bill is projected at not more than $9,000 per year by the Special Joint Committee of the Micronesian Congress. [013698