MPs call for action on healthcare concerns

Nov 6, 2024 | News | 0

Three Members of Parliament (MPs) have written a letter to the Prime Minister (PM) as the Head of the Government, expressing serious concerns about the country’s healthcare system and calling for immediate government action.

The three MPs include Christophe Emelee for Torres Constituency, Marcelino Barthelemy Malekula) and Jack Norris Kalmet (Efate Rural).

While the MPs have usually supported the government for the sake of stability and better services, they can no longer ignore the unfair distribution of resources.

The MPs noted that the government claims it cannot find extra funds for healthcare workers, like doctors and nurses, who are facing tough conditions with limited resources. Yet, the government can spend money on things like new vehicles and unnecessary charter flights.

“Our healthcare system is in crisis, and this misallocation of resources is unacceptable,” they said. They emphasized that essential services like healthcare are being neglected, risking the lives of citizens.

They praised the hard work and dedication of doctors and nurses in Vanuatu, who often go unrecognized and lack resources. They highlighted that specialist doctors in Vanuatu earn less than those in nearby countries, which pushes them to seek better opportunities abroad. This has led to many experienced doctors leaving Vanuatu, including several who have moved to countries like Wales, Australia, and Fiji.

The MPs believe the main reason for these departures is poor management within the Ministry of Health (MoH). They pointed to delays in salary promotions and failure to distribute COVID risk allowances, which almost led to a nurses’ strike earlier this year.

The MPs demanded that the government take immediate steps to fix these problems.

They stressed that the government should prioritize healthcare over political needs. They reminded the government of its responsibility to ensure social justice and the well-being of the people. If the government ignores these issues, the MPs indicated they might take legal action.

They warned that the situation in hospitals is dire, with doctors and nurses feeling demoralized and patients suffering.

“This is not just poor administration; it borders on criminal negligence,” they stated, urging the government to take action quickly.

In response, the Health Minister John Still Tari shared his plans and priorities during his 11 months in office.

He mentioned three key areas of focus: decentralizing healthcare services to rural communities, establishing specialized clinical services, and increasing the recruitment and training of healthcare workers.

The Minister highlighted the renovation of over 100 rural health facilities, supported by funding from the government.

Tari also talked about agreements made with the Solomon Islands to address the nursing shortage, noting a need for 300 more nurses.

He has partnered with educational institutions to train more nurses and provide scholarships for students interested in health sciences.

Despite these efforts, Tari recognized the ongoing shortage of nurses, especially with many reaching retirement age. He stated that if students continue to be trained consistently, this gap could be filled in the next five years. The ministry is also working with the Vanuatu Qualifications Authority to restart nursing programs by 2025.

The minister mentioned meetings with universities to increase the number of medical students. He stressed that high school students must meet specific requirements to be accepted into these programs.

He addressed the issue of limited patient access to healthcare, noting that new vehicles have been purchased to improve services in rural areas. The ministry’s budget includes plans to replace old vehicles with the help of partners.

Regarding medical referrals, Qetu explained that charter flights for patients are a priority, but financial issues have limited these flights. He clarified that other charter flights are funded by donor partners for their programs.

Tari defended the ministry’s record regarding doctors who have left the country, stating that most had already moved before he took office.

He mentioned that two senior doctors are currently providing support to neighbouring countries and will return to Vanuatu afterward.

He acknowledged that if health workers receive better offers elsewhere, they might choose to leave.

He indicated that a review of the ministry’s structure and salary scales for health workers is planned for 2024.

He also expressed his goal to establish a Health Service Commission in 2025, allowing the Ministry to set salary scales independently and without political influence.

Tari highlighted the establishment of an Intensive Care Unit and a Dialysis Centre as significant achievements during his time as Minister.

He also emphasized that he has an open-door policy and welcomes discussions with colleagues about improving healthcare in Vanuatu.

He promised to provide an update in early 2025 about the progress made and future plans for the healthcare system.

SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST

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Vanuatu’s education crisis a ‘national disaster’ – Pikinini Playtime CEO August 12, 2026
Pikinini Playtime founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Tony Batten has described Vanuatu’s education situation as a “national disaster”, warning that poor literacy outcomes among children could affect the country’s future development. Speaking during an interview on Kava Mo Kajap, Mr. Batten said reports that around 70 per cent of children are unable to read and write at the expected level should be treated as a serious national concern. “I think it is a national disaster, like a hurricane or an earthquake,” Mr. Batten said. He said Vanuatu’s greatest resource is not its land or natural resources, but its people, and education is the foundation needed to develop that human resource. “Human resources are the number one resource for Vanuatu,” he said. Mr. Batten said countries that have successfully moved from being less developed to more advanced economies have done so by investing heavily in education and building a skilled population. However, he said Vanuatu’s current education results remain a major concern despite the country spending a significant amount of its national budget on education. “Vanuatu gives a lot of money per capita into education, but the results are still among the lowest in the Pacific,” he said. The Pikinini Playtime founder said the challenge is not only about funding but about how the education system delivers results. He questioned why many students continue to leave school without basic reading and writing skills despite years spent in classrooms. Mr. Batten said the impact of poor education outcomes can also be seen in the country’s workforce, where businesses often recruit skilled workers from overseas to fill positions. “We bring people from the Philippines and other countries to do accounting, bookkeeping, management, building and supervisory work, but many ni-Vanuatu are not able to take those opportunities because they do not have the basic education,” he said. He said the literacy issue must be addressed early because children who fail to develop strong reading skills in their early years often struggle throughout their education journey. Mr. Batten also raised concerns about the value placed on education within the system. He said teacher absenteeism, weak accountability and a lack of support for educators contribute to children losing confidence in learning. “When children see that school is not important, they begin to believe they don’t need school,” he said. Mr. Batten acknowledged that many teachers are working under difficult conditions but said the system needs stronger support, training and leadership to improve outcomes. He believes improving education requires everyone involved — government, schools, teachers, principals and parents — to work together. “Children are smart. They have the ability. But they need the right support and the right opportunities,” he said. Mr. Batten said addressing literacy must become a national priority because the future of Vanuatu depends on the quality of education provided to today’s children. SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST

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