The Marshall Islands ambassador to Washington says a group of American doctors will provide medical services to the country for the first time early next year.

The founder of the Flying Doctors of America, Dr Allan Gathercoal and a Washington-based consultant Fred Radewagen, recently visited Majuro and Kwajalein and plans are underway for a team of more than 10 doctors, dentists and nurses to arrive by February.

The Ambassador, Charles Paul, says Majuro Hospital is severely understaffed and has been struggling over the past several years to keep doctors on staff.

Mr Paul says the plan is to split the visiting team to different islands to offer generalised medical services in cooperation with the Ministry of Health.

He says when the team leaves there will still be a shortage of doctors so the idea of rotating US board certified doctors to the Marshall Islands is being considered.