Solomon Islands Council of Trade Union (SICTU) has welcomed the decision to remove officers involved in the illegal disbursement of drugs and medicines from the drug stores.
In a statement on Tuesday SICTU President Mr Tony Kagovai supported the directive by the Minister of Health and Medical Services to terminate officers involved in in removing medicines from Provincial Health Facilities.
“Employees of the provinces are either seconded officers or direct employees and they are members of our Unions.”
Even though SICTU have ZERO TOLERANCE to corruption and malpractice at workplace, the Trade Union umbrella body whose affiliates are Solomon Islands Medical Association, Solomon Islands Nurses Association and Solomon Islands Allied Health Association, cautioned the Minister to take all measures to ensure that those accused have access to natural justice.
SICTU President welcomes the assurance by the Minister of steps taken to address the chronic shortage of medicine experienced across the country in all health and medical facilities including the National Referral Hospital.
It was revealed that some of the reasons that contribute to the shortage of medicine and general drugs are:
1. Unpaid bills from suppliers amounting to several millions
2. The continues cut on medicine budget annually by MOH and SIG
3. Poor Procurement management process, ( MOH & NMS)
4. Poor Medicine Management Policy.
5. Lack or Poor coordination of Supply chain of medicine from National to Provincial level.
6. The poor shipping services in our country that delays medicine supplies to health facilities
SICTU calls on the Health Ministry and the Government to resolve these issues.
