Honiara: 3 February 2018
Letter to the Editors, Solomon Star and Island Sun newspapers.
PETITION ON SI MEDICAL HEALTH SERVICE UNDERWAY
It was reported from Honiara last today, 2 February 2018, that a petition was being organized by the patients, health workers and their supporters at the NRH and that signatures were being collected to petition the Prime Minister to call for a Commission of Enquiry (COE) into the medical and health service provided at the National Referral Hospital (NRH)
The petition is reportedly aimed at seeing the recommendations set in the 2009 and 2015 Special Select Committee report into the Quality of Medical Services provided at NRH are fully implemented, with special attention on the development aspects of the NRH.
In April 2009 the SI Parliament resolved on a motion to appoint a Special Select Committee to inquire into the quality of medical services provided at the National Referral Hospital (NRH).
Since then only a few of the recommendations have been achieved and the quality of medical services at the NRH is claimed to be poor.
The petitioners support the call for the national government to carry out work on the recommendations adding that the NRH needs a total restructuring.
In undertaking this petition one should not overlook or diminish the dedicated service performed by the doctors, nurses and support staff of the NRH and take into consideration the tremendous services they perform in often not too ideal working conditions.
Likewise, we should not overlook the help that has been given, and continues to be given, by many charitable persons and organizations committed to the welfare of the NRH’s patients, including children, the disabled, the very sick and to the material, equipment and medical supplies needs of the hospital.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
