LEADER of Opposition Matthew Wale has slammed the government’s intention to
explore a labour mobility scheme that would see Solomon Islands nurses and
doctors sent to the Cook Islands, describing it as short sighted and reckless.

In a statement yesterday, Mr Wale said the Prime Minister’s recent announcement
reflects his disconnection from the harsh realities faced by Solomon Islanders within
the country’s ailing health system.

“Our health system is in crisis. What ordinary Solomon Islanders all throughout the
Country face daily is a system plagued by chronic underfunding, dilapidated
infrastructure, and a severe shortage of essential medicine, equipment, and medical
professionals,” Wale said.

The Opposition Leader described the proposal as lacking basic common sense.

“Government should be focused on recruiting, training, and retaining more health
professionals, not exporting the few we have left. Every clinic and hospital across the
country is in urgent need of staff. That should be the priority,” Wale said.

Wale said the Prime Minister’s announcement demonstrates a troubling lack of
policy direction and vision, the statement adds.

“There is no coherent policy here. It is deeply concerning that this is what
Government is offering at a time when our people are crying out for better services
and improved healthcare access. It is a sad indictment on this government’s
leadership,” Wale said.

While acknowledging the benefits of labour mobility programmes in certain sectors,
Wale said such schemes must not come at the cost of critical national services.

“Labour mobility programs are a useful short-term response to unemployment. But
it becomes nonsensical when it involves sending away already employed
professionals, especially when they are among the few essential health workers we
have. It is like exporting food while your own people are starving,” Wale said.

Wale stressed that Government’s focus should be on improving the working
conditions for doctors and nurses, while at the same time pursuing a robust
economic policy that is centred on job creation for Solomon Islanders in Solomon
Islands.

Wale urged the Prime Minister to abandon any policy that proposes sending nurses
and doctors overseas and instead focus on rebuilding the health system and its
workforce, the statement said.