by Georgina Maka’a

Governor General Sir David Kapu says the Government views the health and wellbeing of Solomon Islanders as non-negotiable and will work to ensure everyone has access to quality healthcare through improved clinics and services.

Delivering the Speech from the Throne to open the 12th Parliament meeting in Honiara today, Sir David said the first test of any health system was ensuring a reliable supply of medicines.

“To make sure of this, the Government will strengthen how medicines are managed and supplied, so every level of care is fully stocked,” he said.

Sir David said greater focus must be placed on primary healthcare, including reopening closed clinics, upgrading Area Health Centres and expanding specialist services at provincial hospitals such as Kilu’ufi and Gizo.

“The National Referral Hospital will be developed into a fully-fledged tertiary hospital with better diagnostics and specialist training, and the National Public Health Laboratory will be brought up to international standards,” he said.

He called for greater investment in public health, saying prevention was both more humane and more affordable than treating illness.

“The Government will deal with mental health openly and without stigma, building facilities in all provinces and moving the National Psychiatric Unit to Honiara. It is also committed to eliminating malaria by 2038,” Sir David said.

“The health workforce will be strengthened with incentives for those who serve in rural areas. Digital health will be advanced and epidemic preparedness reinforced.”

Sir David said the Health Service Bill and amendments to the Dangerous Drugs Act would be brought before Parliament soon.

On education, Sir David said the greatest wealth of Solomon Islands was its people, particularly its children.

He said the Government had allocated about $1.4 billion to education in 2026, making it one of the largest funded sectors.

He described the Free Education Policy as the flagship of the Government’s social programme, saying preparations were underway for nationwide implementation in 2027 to ensure no child is denied access to education because of their parents’ financial circumstances.

The Education Act 2023 is also being implemented, with training already provided to more than 300 school principals.

Sir David said the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development was being restructured, while a new Ministry of Higher Education, Skills Development and Research would help create clearer pathways from education into employment.

“Teachers in primary, secondary and early childhood education have received new salary structures, with the technical and vocational sector to follow from August,” he said.

He added that a $300 million project with the Asian Development Bank would modernise the Years 10 to 12 curriculum, while further partnerships would support teacher development and the introduction of technology in classrooms.

Sir David acknowledged the support of development partners and reminded parents and guardians that they are “the first and most important teachers of every child.”