Health Minister must apologise
The war of words over the status of the health system in PNG. David Conn PNG representative, Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children has his say in Post Couriers Viewpoint.
Health Minister must apologise
I refer to the Focus article on page 14 of Post-Courier on June 10, regarding the proposed new hospital at Bautama.
I was shocked to read the vitriol that issued from the mouth of a minister aimed at two stalwarts of the PNG medical profession, Professor Glen Mola and Professor John Vince. Professor Glen Mola carries the name of one of PNG’s founding fathers, chose citizenship of this country many years ago and has more than shown himself worthy of it .
The Minister’s comments are disgraceful and a deep insult to Glen and the people of Bougainville.
Professor John Vince has been our adviser on Rotary medical cases for many years and has overseen dignity restoring and life saving surgery in Australia for scores of children, whose own health system was incapable of helping them. The fact that your newspaper even considered the Minister’s fulminations worthy of print staggers me. But on the other hand it does place in full public view the character of our Health Minister.
Clearly, he is a man under pressure and devoid of solutions to our intractable health problems, hence his personal attack on two well-respected staff within his own department. Both men have served PNG proudly for many decades and to be attacked in such a way by their own minister is just inexcusable.
Many of us have felt grave concerns for our health system for many years and to know that it is in the hands of such a politician, who once promised so much, with poor management skills is deeply depressing and gives us little hope for the future.
To blame the problems of health as the product of their poor teaching is laughable. To lay the shame of PNG’s health indicators at their door defies rational logic. Minister Zibe, you are the minister. The Westminster system dictates that as Minister the buck stops with you.
I do not think, then, it is unreasonable to lay the blame for these low HDI’s at your feet, Honourable Minister for Health. Let us hear some of the words, he is alleged to have written.
Quote of Prof Mola, “Your days are over and you will soon retire and head down under where everything is ready for your retirement .”
Quote “You should be ashamed of yourself as an educator and adviser….. I blame you and John Vince for these problems. It is about time that we will find our own solutions and new advisers to the problems you have created over the years. Now let me make this very clear to you! Don’t bother to waste your time because Paul and I will not listen to your outdated advice." Quote “We will build PMC with or without you and your cronies”. Has this Minister lost the plot altogether when he can rant at his own officers like this?
When a Minister of State can push an agenda with such vigour tinged with racism and spleen, ignoring some of his most professional staff, it does tend to beg the question.
Why, Minister? Why not answer the critics of the new hospital in a balanced debate without the brow-beating tactics you have employed?
Why not tell the people why this project alone will cost more than the total existing health budget and cater for no more than 100 well-heeled patients?
Will this new facility be available to the ordinary people of PNG at rates which they can afford? Why not explain why the site at Bautama, reached through the crime-infested 6 Mile area, was chosen?
A sincere apology to these two true public servants of Papua New Guinea is the least you can do.
And if you are unable to do this , with respect Mr Prime Minister, you need a new man to tackle the extreme problems our health system faces.
David A Conn, PNG representative, Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children
Health Minister must apologise
I refer to the Focus article on page 14 of Post-Courier on June 10, regarding the proposed new hospital at Bautama.
I was shocked to read the vitriol that issued from the mouth of a minister aimed at two stalwarts of the PNG medical profession, Professor Glen Mola and Professor John Vince. Professor Glen Mola carries the name of one of PNG’s founding fathers, chose citizenship of this country many years ago and has more than shown himself worthy of it .
The Minister’s comments are disgraceful and a deep insult to Glen and the people of Bougainville.
Professor John Vince has been our adviser on Rotary medical cases for many years and has overseen dignity restoring and life saving surgery in Australia for scores of children, whose own health system was incapable of helping them. The fact that your newspaper even considered the Minister’s fulminations worthy of print staggers me. But on the other hand it does place in full public view the character of our Health Minister.
Clearly, he is a man under pressure and devoid of solutions to our intractable health problems, hence his personal attack on two well-respected staff within his own department. Both men have served PNG proudly for many decades and to be attacked in such a way by their own minister is just inexcusable.
Many of us have felt grave concerns for our health system for many years and to know that it is in the hands of such a politician, who once promised so much, with poor management skills is deeply depressing and gives us little hope for the future.
To blame the problems of health as the product of their poor teaching is laughable. To lay the shame of PNG’s health indicators at their door defies rational logic. Minister Zibe, you are the minister. The Westminster system dictates that as Minister the buck stops with you.
I do not think, then, it is unreasonable to lay the blame for these low HDI’s at your feet, Honourable Minister for Health. Let us hear some of the words, he is alleged to have written.
Quote of Prof Mola, “Your days are over and you will soon retire and head down under where everything is ready for your retirement .”
Quote “You should be ashamed of yourself as an educator and adviser….. I blame you and John Vince for these problems. It is about time that we will find our own solutions and new advisers to the problems you have created over the years. Now let me make this very clear to you! Don’t bother to waste your time because Paul and I will not listen to your outdated advice." Quote “We will build PMC with or without you and your cronies”. Has this Minister lost the plot altogether when he can rant at his own officers like this?
When a Minister of State can push an agenda with such vigour tinged with racism and spleen, ignoring some of his most professional staff, it does tend to beg the question.
Why, Minister? Why not answer the critics of the new hospital in a balanced debate without the brow-beating tactics you have employed?
Why not tell the people why this project alone will cost more than the total existing health budget and cater for no more than 100 well-heeled patients?
Will this new facility be available to the ordinary people of PNG at rates which they can afford? Why not explain why the site at Bautama, reached through the crime-infested 6 Mile area, was chosen?
A sincere apology to these two true public servants of Papua New Guinea is the least you can do.
And if you are unable to do this , with respect Mr Prime Minister, you need a new man to tackle the extreme problems our health system faces.
David A Conn, PNG representative, Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children
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