West Virginia's infant mortality rate was 7.6 per 1,000 live births in 2000, above the national average rate of 6.9. In 1999, 2,498 abortions were performed, or 7 per 1,000 women. The overall death rate in West Virginia, 1,171.5 per 100,000 population in 2000, was the highest in the nation. Only 1,178 AIDS cases had been reported in West Virginia through 2001. In 2000, West Virginia had the highest death rate from cardiovascular disease of any state, at 357.0 per 100,000 inhabitants, and of cancer at 263.7. Other leading causes of death were stroke, accidents, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, pneumonia and flu, and diabetes. Pneumoconiosis (black lung) is an occupational hazard among coal miners. In the 2000, 26.1% of persons 18 years of age and older in West Virginia were smokers.
West Virginia's 57 community hospitals had 297,079 admissions and 7,906 beds in 2001. There were 8,512 full-time registered nurses and 1,877 full-time licensed practical nurses in 2001 and 238 physicians per 100,000 population in 2000. The average expense of a community hospital for care was $1,591.30 per inpatient day in 2001.
Federal government grants to cover the Medicare and Medicaid services in 2001 totaled $1.2 billion; 339,853 enrollees received Medicare benefits that year. At least 13.2% of West Virginia's residents were uninsured in 2002.
Medical education is provided by medical schools at West Virginia University and Marshall University and at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine.