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Public deserves transparent and objective communication from Ministry of Health and Medical Services
EDITORIAL
In a recent statement, Dr. Pedical Togamae, President of the Solomon Islands Medical Association (SIMA), voiced serious concerns about the challenging work conditions faced by emergency doctors and nurses at the National Referral Hospital (NRH). The Emergency department has been closed for over a month for a maintenance and refurbishment project worth 1.9 million, a situation exacerbated by funding delays and Pacific Games commitments.
Dr. Togamae highlighted the impact of these delays on healthcare professionals, currently working in makeshift tents on the hospital premises due to the closure of the Emergency department. The shortage of beds and inadequate working space in the temporary facilities has raised questions about the well-being of both medical staff and patients.
In response to SIMA’s concerns, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) acknowledged slight delays in the renovation work but assured the public that the project would resume shortly. The renovation aims to address increasing demands on the Emergency Department and enhance critical care services.
However, the MHMS response has also raised eyebrows as it appeared to take a defensive stance, with Dr. Togamae being accused of confusing and misleading the public using his position. The ministry’s statement seemed to border on a personal attack rather than addressing the substantive concerns raised by SIMA.
While the MHMS assured the public of the priority given to patient care and safety, it failed to directly address the issues raised by SIMA regarding inadequate facilities, understaffing, and the impact on the well-being of medical professionals.
Dr. Togamae’s call for an investigation into NRH leadership and funding issues for the Emergency Department renovations was met with a response from the ministry, urging collaboration with NRH management and proper channels for addressing concerns.
The ministry also highlighted ongoing improvements in NRH infrastructure, emphasizing that the renovation work will continue as planned. Additionally, plans for a new TB complex aim to provide better outpatient services and referrals, avoiding the need to keep tuberculosis patients in the emergency department.
While the ministry’s response outlines positive developments, the lack of a direct and comprehensive address to the concerns raised by SIMA has left room for skepticism. The apparent personal attack on Dr. Togamae raises questions about the professionalism of the MHMS response.
As the country struggles with healthcare challenges, the public deserves transparent and objective communication from both SIMA and the Ministry of Health and Medical Services. Collaborative efforts are essential to ensure the well-being of healthcare professionals and the effective functioning of critical medical facilities. The focus should be on addressing the substantive issues at hand rather than engaging in personal disputes through media channels.
Let us not forget the preamble of our country’s constitution, a testament to the foundational principles that bind us together:
“We, the people of the Solomon Islands, proud of the wisdom and worthy customs of our ancestors, mindful of our common and diverse heritage, and conscious of our common destiny, do now, under the guiding hand of God, establish the sovereign democratic State of the Solomon Islands.
As a basis for our united nation, we declare that all power in the Solomon Islands belongs to its people and is exercised on their behalf by the legislature, the executive, and the judiciary established by this Constitution. The natural resources of our country are vested in the people and the government of the Solomon Islands.
In agreement and pledge, our government shall be based on democratic principles of universal suffrage and the responsibility of executive authorities to elected assemblies. We shall uphold the principles of equality, social justice, and the equitable distribution of incomes. We commit to respecting and enhancing human dignity, strengthening and building on our communal solidarity. We shall cherish and promote the different cultural traditions within the Solomon Islands. Furthermore, we pledge to ensure the participation of our people in the governance of their affairs and, within the framework of our national unity, provide for the decentralization of power.”
