OPPOSITION Leader Hon Matthew Wale says it is discriminating for the Government to accuse nurses of illegally selling medical drugs.
In a statement today, Hon Wale said his office was reliably informed by members of the Solomon Islands Nurses Association (SINA) that allegations made by the Office of the Prime Minister & Cabinet (OPMC) is not true.
He said it is irresponsible of the OPMC to blame nurses to try and justify the medical drug shortage in the country.
“Why blame nurses? You should be blaming yourselves for negligence and inefficiency in dealing with the situation at hand,” Hon Wale said.
The Opposition Leader said the Nursing Association, although suspended, have a professional nursing care system otherwise the situation would present harmful impacts especially on patients.
Hon Wale said to make a blanket statement as such is a slap on the face of all hard working nurses in and around our clinics and hospitals.
“If the OPMC and the health ministry have any proof of nurses selling medical drugs then simply carry out an investigation rather than making unnecessary blanket statements as such,” he said.
The Opposition Leader said the OPMC and the Secretary to Prime Minister owes an apology to those hardworking and committed nurses.
He said the truth is OPMC and the health ministry are incompetent.
“They cannot simply address administrative, financial and procurement issues to deal with the medicine shortage in the country so they will try to blame others for their failure,” he said.
The Opposition Leader said the extent of corruption practices within the ministry and the lack of commitment to the health sector in this country is evident.
“How heartless can this Government be, prioritizing and committing more funding towards the PG 2023 at the expense children, women and men who are in dire need of life saving drugs at our hospitals,” he said.
Hon Wale said the ministry needs a major overhaul urging the Health Minister and Prime Minister to do some serious work and address these issues with urgency.
– Opposition Press
