19 March 2023
With the population in the Solomon Islands already exceeding 700,000 and likely to be close to 1 million in a few short years time, I believe the Government and the MHMS must evaluate the position relative to health care provisioning, including funding and equipment needs with a degree of priority.
Quality of care is the degree to which health services for individuals and populations increase the likelihood of desired health outcomes. It is based on evidence-based professional knowledge and is critical for achieving universal health coverage. As countries commit to achieving Health for All, it is imperative to carefully consider the quality of care and health services. Quality health care can be defined in many ways but there is growing acknowledgement that quality health services should be:
- Effective – providing evidence-based healthcare services to those who need them;
- Safe – avoiding harm to people for whom the care is intended; and
- People-centred – providing care that responds to individual preferences, needs and values.
To realize the benefits of quality health care, health services must be:
- Timely – reducing waiting times and sometimes harmful delays;
- Equitable – providing care that does not vary in quality on account of gender, ethnicity, geographic location, and socio-economic status;
- Integrated – providing care that makes available the full range of health services throughout the life course;
- Efficient – maximizing the benefit of available resources and avoiding waste.
Comment
In 2023 can we truly say the health service provisioning and requirements in the Solomon Islands meet the expectations required by WHO standards and its specified requirements?
I personally think not and I would urge the SIG, once the Pacific Games are successfully over to garner all the help possible through its existing diplomatic partners new, and old, to bring about a major reform of local health services for the benefit of all its people whether rural or urban citizens.
Source WHO
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
