THE rationale behind the Oversight Committee’s directive to prioritise COVID testing for Members of Parliament (MP), their families and the Office Prime Minister and Cabinet (OPMC) has been questioned.
In a statement today Leader of Opposition Matthew Wale said it is unfair for the many frontliners and citizens around the country that do not have the privilege and access to get tested.
“It is sad that citizens have been turned back at the Auditorium today and the past few days that testing is only for MPs, their families and PMO officials. What is the rationale behind this,” he said.
Mr Wale said such self-serving attitude should not be practised during this time.
The Opposition Leader said if government’s policy is to test its workforce first then they should prioritize purchase of RAT kits accessible to households for our people.
The MP for Aoke/LangaLanga said even the 1000 RAT kits distributed to each province as announced by the Health Minister last week is not enough.
“I am reiterating my call for the government to purchase more RAT kits for our people not only in Honiara but in the provinces.
“The government must be fair and not to be seen as prioritizing only a certain class of people from the rest of the citizens,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Opposition Leader also raised concerns why private clinics are charging people for COVID testing at a very high cost.
“If the Ministry of Health is collaborating with private clinics to administer testing then it should be free and people should not pay for it,” he said.
