Work to renovate the Emergency Unit at the National Referral Hospital (NRH) in Honiara has stopped because hospital authorities reportedly diverted funds for the project towards hosting the Pacific Games, according to a leading doctor.
“NRH Emergency Department has been closed for more than a month now,” head of the unit and President of the Solomon Islands Medical Association (SIMA) Dr Pedical Togamae said.
“The renovation work has ceased to progress at the moment due to funding delays and due to the Pacific Games commitment,” he added.
The Emergency Department is the unit responsible for attending to emergency cases.
Togamae said $1.9 million was allocated for the project.
When work started, Togamae said the unit was relocated into a makeshift tent built in the hospital’s car park.
Triage desk at the NRH Entrance
It’s expected that the work should be completed before the start of the Pacific Games.
However, Togamae said that due to delays in releasing the funds, this did not happen.
Now work has completely stopped, and Togamae and his staff did not know when they would return to their supposedly renovated workspace.
“Working under a tent on the hot tarmac is not conducive.
“Both doctors and patients have to withstand 24 hours of immense heat,” Togamae said.
Doctors consultation table
He urged the Minister for Health Dr Culwick Togamana, Permanent Secretary Pauline McNeil and NRH chief executive officer Dr George Malefoasi to promptly act on the situation.
In response, the Health ministry says in a statement renovation work will resume today or tomorrow.
It claimed the delay in works was due to issues of mobilization of resources and materials by the contractor.
“That’s now been rectified,” the statement claimed.
It added the renovation work was necessary to help staff at the Emergency Unit manage overcrowding, meet increasing demand for critical care and support emergency flows.
“It will not be too long before a newly renovated emergency department that is more friendly and functional will be reopened,” the statement said.