BY NED GAGAHE
Central Islands Province’s health system is bracing for a major shake-up, with more than 20 non-local staff preparing to exit in direct response to a provincial government push to localise the workforce.
Under its new “Re-direction Policy,” the Central Islands Provincial (CIP) government has informed health administrators in a series of meetings that the strategy aims to prioritise local recruitment, build the capacity of indigenous workers to fill key roles, and gradually phase out employees from other provinces.
Last week, health administrators were summoned by the CIP Executive to address several issues relating to the operations and performance of the health department.
At a general staff meeting following that engagement, affected workers made their intentions clear, formally expressing their desire to leave.
Documents sighted by Island Sun confirm that a formal request has since been submitted to the Ministry of Health and Medical Services and the Ministry of Public Service, seeking redeployment to other provinces.
However, Central Islands Province Premier Kenneth Sagupari has rejected allegations that his government is endorsing the removal of workers from other provinces.
“On this note, I reject allegations that our government endorses the removal of workers from other provinces. It is not in our interest to do so,” Premier Sagupari said.
“The only thing we recommend to all workers in our province is to perform their duties without nepotism, unfairness or bias, and to properly serve our people.
“The news recently from our health leadership is disturbing. It is not right to ask people to leave due to misunderstandings, as there are proper processes to resolve such issues,” he added.
He said that his government does not discriminate against workers based on their province of origin.
“As head of the government, I have no issue with anyone who comes to work and serve our people and province,” he said.
Several of those preparing to exit are senior personnel across administration, nursing and program departments, raising concerns about the potential strain on already stretched health services.
Health workers argue that the policy is discriminatory, saying it undermines their contributions and leaves them feeling unwelcome despite years of service.
The impending departures are expected to significantly affect service delivery, particularly in critical areas where experienced staff are not easily replaced.
It is alleged that in previous meetings with health administrators, Premier Sagupari reiterated his government’s commitment to workforce localisation, describing it as necessary for long-term sustainability and local empowerment.
Premier Sagupari clarified that the policy is intended to prioritise recruitment of Central Islands residents in preparation for future statehood ambitions, not to discriminate against workers from other provinces.
Meanwhile, Tulagi Hospital Secretary Catherine Au told Island Sun this is not the first time staff have heard of the government’s intention to localise its workforce.
“When we heard this, we felt sad. Some of us have been working here for four to five years, even up to 10 years. We have served the province for a long time and now consider it a second home,” Ms Au said.
“We feel like we are being discriminated against. Even in our workplace, we feel unwelcome.”
Ms Au confirmed that affected workers have now expressed their desire to be redeployed to other provinces.
Island Sun understands that the Ministry of Health is expected to meet with both the affected workers and the CIP government to discuss the matter.
According to documents, the situation is also linked to ongoing complaints and dissatisfaction among senior nursing officers regarding the leadership and administrative practices of the Provincial Health Director (PHD).
Key concerns raised include:
- Lack of inclusive and transparent decision-making processes
- Inequity in recruitment and staff deployment, affecting staff morale, including allegations of recruitment based on religion
- Inefficient, unfair and non-objective management of provincial health resources, including:
- Limited or restricted use of OBM, fuel and vehicles
- Restrictions on transport of deceased persons from Honiara to Gela who are not referrals
- Strict visitation hours for patients, despite Tulagi Hospital not being a referral hospital
These issues have been raised through internal channels with the Director of Nursing and senior staff. However, the Director of Nursing reportedly escalated the matter to the CIP government, prompting intervention.
As a result, the Premier and Executive summoned the Provincial Health Director and Hospital Secretary to an urgent meeting on April 21, 2026, to address the concerns.
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The recent report regarding the “Re-direction Policy” in Central Islands Province (CIP) and the subsequent mass exodus of non-local health workers is a deeply concerning development that warrants a closer look at the legal and practical realities of our public service.
While “workforce localization” sounds like a noble path toward provincial empowerment, the current execution risks being both discriminatory and a direct threat to the lives of CIP residents.
The Legal Reality of Secondment
It is crucial to distinguish between Direct Employees and Seconded Officers. As noted by many in the sector, a significant portion of our medical workforce consists of seconded officers. These are employees of the National Government, deployed by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) and the Ministry of Public Service to fill critical gaps across the nation. When a provincial government pushes for the removal of these officers based on their island of origin, they are not just implementing local policy—they are interfering with national human resource management. These officers serve where the need is greatest, and their right to work is protected under the laws of the Solomon Islands.
The Practical Manpower Gap
Healthcare is a specialized field that relies on years of training and experience. You cannot replace a senior nursing officer or a specialist administrator overnight simply because they hold a different provincial ID. If more than 20 experienced staff leave simultaneously, the “gap” left behind will not be filled by local recruits—it will be filled by silence in the wards and unstaffed clinics. The province simply does not have the immediate local manpower to replace this level of expertise.
The Dangerous Precedent of Discrimination
To label a workforce as “non-local” after they have served a community for five to ten years is a betrayal of the spirit of national unity. When workers like Catherine Au state they feel “unwelcome” and “discriminated against” in their own workplace, it signals a breakdown in the professional environment. A doctor or nurse who feels unwanted cannot perform their duties with the focus and passion required for patient care.
A Call for Balance
Premier Sagupari maintains that the policy is about “long-term sustainability,” yet the immediate result is the collapse of current stability. We must ask: What is more important—the province of origin on a staff member’s file, or the quality of care provided to the people of Central Islands?
We urge the Ministry of Health and the CIP Executive to find a middle ground. Localization should be a gradual process of capacity building, not a sudden purge that leaves the sick and the vulnerable to pay the price for political ambitions.
Localization should on lower post but higher post should go to highest and best bbidder.