The Medical and Dental Board is under pressure to enforce regulations that discipline doctors and dentists who fail to uphold ethical and professional standards.
This demand follows a decline in public trust in medical practitioners, particularly at the National Referral Hospital (NRH), where delays in patient care and ethical breaches have been reported.
A concerned member of the public criticized the Board for its inaction against doctors found guilty of dishonesty, negligence, malpractice, incompetence, or unprofessional conduct.
They attributed frequent cases of misdiagnosis at the NRH to inadequate regulatory oversight.
“We expect doctors to be punctual and committed despite the challenges they face. The medical profession is noble, dedicated to helping the sick,” the individual stressed.
They urged the Board to take decisive actions, including removing doctors from the medical register, suspending their registration for up to 12 months, or imposing fines of up to $500.
The individual noted that despite public criticism, the Board has not terminated any medical practitioners in recent years.
“The Board can provide the number of registered medical and dental practitioners, but it cannot disclose how many, if any, have been terminated,” they said.
“It is time for the Board to enforce its regulations. We have more doctors now than in the past, making it crucial to regain public trust in the profession,” they added.
The member of the public also emphasized the need to address issues such as medication misuse by doctors in hospitals and called for the Board’s independence from the Ministry of Health and Medical Services.
“You won’t find a similar Board operating under a government ministry anywhere else in the world. It must be independent to function without political interference,” they said.
The individual urged the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Public Service to collaborate in addressing these issues and restoring public confidence in the medical profession.
The Solomon Star sent several questions to the MHMS Communication Department last wee but did not receive a response.
