Delayed Appointment of a Gynaecologist-Obstetrician at Vila Central Hospital [1999] VUOM 18; 1999.20 (9 December 1999)

REPUBLIC OF VANUATU

OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN

PUBLIC REPORT

ON THE

DELAYED APPOINTMENT OF A
GYNAECOLOGIST/OBSTETRICIAN
AT
VILA CENTRAL HOSPITAL

09.12.99

6202/9/20

---------------------------

PUBLIC REPORT
ON THE DELAYED APPOINTMENT
OF A
GYNAECOLOGIST/OBSTETRICIAN
FOR
VILA CENTRAL HOSPITAL

SUMMARY

This report concerns mal-administration in the Health Department from 1994 to 1997. It raises four main issues in the health administration. These issues are:

1. delay in recruiting a qualified gynaecologist & obstetrician for the Vila Central Hospital
   
2. loss of financial assistance from the British Government for some technical positions in the Hospitals including the position of G&O.
   
3. recruitment of a general health practitioner to practise as a gynaecologist & obstetrician in the major Hospitals in Vanuatu without the practitioner’s having obtained proper training and qualification
   
4. degrading, tarnishing and undermining the trust and cordial bilateral relations between two sovereign states
   

The former Director of Health at that time, Mr Yves Niowenmal and his team of high officers in the Health Department had priorities other than recruiting a qualified specialist in G&O for the health of mothers and babies in Vanuatu. Proposals were made to them to recruit recommended candidates for the position. They however, delayed the recruitment because they had other priorities.

The British Government had signed an agreement with the Vanuatu Government for the Medical Staffing Project. In this agreement, the British Government had offered to fund the position of a qualified G&O practitioner for Vila central Hospital. The Aid Management Office and the National Planning Office provided all the assistance to speed up the recruitment, but the Health Department made no effort to recruit the G&O practitioner under this assistance. The British Government finally withdrew the funding assistance after the Health Department failed to recruit a G&O practitioner under the fund.