Forum

There is a chronic severe shortage of docs, surgeons and other medical professionals in the Solomons.  Local medics are often lost to hospitals abroad. Among the reasons for the brain drain are better work conditions in other countries (docs in the Solomons routinely deal with mind-boggling patient loads and responsibilities, shortage of even basic equipment and materials in hospitals in danger of shutting down, power and water outages making surgeries or care impossible, even riots etc).  Those who stay, however, make do with little and generally deal exceedingly well although the job requires sometimes tough decision making, picking of one's battles and lots of patience!!

In an effort to recruit/retain docs, the Solomons have also put their hope in graduates from the Fiji School of Medicine.

http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=45341

Specialist medical students in Fiji falling short

Posted at 07:20 on 16 March, 2009 UTC

A new study found only about one third of specialist medial students in Fiji complete their full training.

The study was published in the New Zealand Medical Journal.

After finishing medical school, graduates can specialise in five areas, including pediatrics, anesthesia, internal medicine, gynecology and surgery.

The study’s lead-researcher, Dr Kimberly Oman, says the high drop-out rate is of concern.

“There were 66 that had started training by 2004. 21 were Masters graduates and 42 were diploma graduates, who had left training permanently. The ones who had left training before getting a masters had quite low retention in the public service. There was only about 13 out of the 42 who had been retained, whereas the ones with the Masters, only three had left.”

Dr Kimberly Oman says the drop outs went either into the private sector or overseas.

“She says the main reasons were a lack of transparency in the selection of doctors and uncertain career progressions.”

News Content © Radio New Zealand International
PO Box 123, Wellington, New Zealand

http://solomonstarnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7482&change=71&changeown=78&Itemid=26

Taiwan docs, nurse here to serve
Thursday, 19 March 2009
Solomons Star

TWO Taiwanese doctors and a nurse are here to execute their country’s Health Centre 2009 Project.

Taiwan Health Centre, located within the National Referral Hospital, was established in October 2007.
A statement from the Taiwanese Embassy in Honiara said the Centre will run a series of health and healthcare service activities this year.

These include parasite screening, treatment and prevention programme for primary school students, chronic disease screening and treatment for elected villages east of Guadalcanal.

Besides, they’ll do seed teacher training programme for Hypertension (H/T) and Diabetes Mellitus, and analysis of drug resistance in malaria pathogens programme, health community.

As well, they’ll do building demonstration program copied from “Overall Community Health Construction model”, and the establishment of first pilot Cyber Medicine project in here.

In additions, the centre will support the weekly medical service at Good Samaritan Hospital, east of Guadalcanal.

The two residential doctors will also participate in the clinical services of Internal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology at the National Referral Hospital.

Taiwan Health Centre was established under a sister relationship between the National Referral Hospital and Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital (KMUH).