Dear Editor – The allegation (SStar No.6080) by Director of NTU, who stated“…NTU did not want fake medical clearances. Past students pay various doctors to do their health clearances, which was cheating” is a ridiculous sweeping and incriminating immature statement.
Whilst I have no concern about designating Honiara International Medical Centre to undertake medical clearance for SIG sponsored students, even such designation is a guarantee of huge income in thousands that could be tainted with corruption that is prevalent today.
I am concerned the strong and unintelligible sweeping statement by the Director of NTU infringes on serious ethical issues thus a very serious allegation on ’various doctors’ who with all doctors are not only bounded by moral and ethical issues they are also required to fulfil specific legal requirements and standards in their practice.
Director, the allegation should be substantiated with facts and reported if it is true.
The very act alleged here is professionally and medically unethical amounting to gross professional misconduct and the perpetrators should be identified and reported to be dealt with by the Medical Council.
It should neverbe used as an unsubstantiated allegation so that a medical centre is designated,could be criminalizing all honest doctors in what could be a nepotistic decision.
I cannot understand how a medical clearance by a registered doctor be regarded as ‘fake medical clearances’ and ‘cheating’ by the Director of NTU.
I would have thought fake medical clearances can only be provided by non-doctors who pretend to be doctors!
Undertaking a routine medical examination for whatever reasons though appears a routine matter, is a serious medical process that must be done diligently and accurately for the purpose of which it is required.
At East Medical Centre, though our priority is to examine and treat sick patients we take routine medical examinations seriously.
It is in respect and recognition of the highest quality of our professional services based on our internationally recognized qualifications that we are the Authorized Medical Centre by CASSA to routinely look after pilots, authorized medical centre by International Maritime Organization to routinely look after seafarers and the airlines to clear patients travelling on commercial airlines, for their own safety and safety of other passengers.
Annually we also medically examined local fishermen so that our fish products enter the European market and also local fisheries observers before they step on any overseas fishing vessels and like the former they are part of workers in international foodchain and do require special medical examination and medical tests.
For whatever reasons, how Honiara International Medical Centre was selected, I hope does not discredit and tarnish the good name of honest and efficient medical practitioners throughout the country.
Sadly this is the consequence such inexperienced media release by the Director of NTU is likely to generate in the minds of some ignorant public.
Dr Nathan K. Kere
East Medical Centre
KGVI
