News
MBPHA health workers stage peaceful protest
(Front) Gloria Warren, MBPHA Board Chairperson, standing beside her MBPHA CEO Dr Perista Mamadi listening during the peaceful protest (NBC News)
Medical staff, including clinicians and non-clinicians at the Alotau Provincial Hospital held a peaceful administrative protest yesterday morning at the front of the Milne Bay Health Authority (MBPHA) Administration office, demanding urgent intervention into the human resource management and the recruitment failures which has caused increased workload on existing staffs
A 48- hour ultimatum has been given by the petitioners for hospital management and board to respond to their demands.
Medical practitioners, clinical support staff, allied health staff, nurses, community health workers and non-clinical staff assembled outside MBPHA Administration office yesterday and presented a formal petition to the hospital's senior executive management and board of directors.
The petition raises serious concerns over human resource management, especially the alleged incompetence in staff recruitment, chronic delays and procedural inefficiencies leaving critical positions vacant.
The petition also highlights Leadership accountability, the lack of responsiveness to clinical workforce needs, Human Resource department operations, declining management credibility and the departure of consultants and senior clinicians.
The petitioners warn that continued failure to recruit essential personnel poses a serious risk to service delivery, patient outcomes and the overall health and wellbeing of the population served by the hospital.
Representing the medical team, Physician Dr Dennis Tony presented two binded- booklets containing their petition to the Senior Executive Management and the hospital Board of Directors to immediately look into their demands.
Dr Tony said their intention is not to criticize anyone but to formally communicate issues affecting the staff and their wellbeing.
"The intention is not to criticize anyone but rather to ensure concerns affecting staff and the quality service, as well the institution is formally communicated through appropriate governing body".
"It is our hope that the petition will serve as a beginning of a positive and constructive process and are confident that through open communication and mutual respect and a shared commitment to the organization’s mission, solutions can be found that will benefit the staff and the management and people the hospital serves.” Dr Tony said.
In receiving the petition, MBPHA Board Chairperson, Mrs Gloria Warren, said in her five years as Chairperson, no discussion was made known as to issues surrounding the hospital and will gladly look into this and come up with a favorable response.
"Within my five years as chair, this is the first petition presented. I as a chair, I've heard so much. We've been having board meetings; we never receive anything as to the issues affecting the sectors in the hospital. We will now sit and discuss and come up with a good resolution". Warren said.
The petitioners have demanded that the board respond within 48- hours on submission. Failure to respond within the stipulated timeframe, the matter will then be further escalated to Provincial Government and Department of Health, relevant oversight and accountability bodies and public disclosure through professional associations and stakeholder forums.