Health & medical critical but RCDF gets more

BY GEORGINA KEKEA

PM Rick Hou

PRIME Minister Rick Hou has revealed to Business houses that government is aware of the lack of medicines in the National Referral Hospital (NRH) and has classified it as critical.

When questioned by a member of the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) during a Business Breakfast with him last month, PM Hou says government is aware of the dire situation of medical supplies at the NRH.

“The issue of the hospital is a very critical one, and the matter has been brought to caucus which we are looking at ways to ensure medical drugs not only medical drugs but also the situation at NRH which is not good.”

PM Hou was being questioned on discretionary funds and government’s priority spending at the moment, considering the dire situation of medical supplies at the NRH.

“To grow the economy, we need a healthy society and a healthy workforce to be productive as alluded to in your speech. So my question is, how are you managing your priority spending now that you have only a few months to go?” the PM was questioned.

The PM in his response says government is implementing spending according to the budget, as it is. He said monies are being spent on where they are intended.

However he admits that half of the government’s budget is being allocated to the RCDF.

“I think what you referred to was the RCDF, this is where 50 percent or more of the budget is allocated and this is where it is being spent.”

Rural Constituency Development Fund (RCDF) is donor funding paid to Members for constituency development purposes.

Members have for many years been strongly criticised by the public for allegedly misusing the funds.

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