Advocate says Nauru refugee medical policy ‘appalling’
The refugees and asylum seekers on Nauru are Australia’s responsibility.
Radio New Zealand – A medical advocate for refugees says a decision to transfer unwell asylum seeker on Nauru to Papua New Guinea rather than Australia for backup specialist treatment is an appalling and unethical move.
Australia’s immigration department says an agreement has been made with PNG for specialist care for asylum seekers and refugees at the private Pacific International Hospital in Port Moresby.
But a Brisbane General Practitioner and the spokesman for Doctors for Refugees, Dr. Richard Kidd, says the refugees and asylum seekers on Nauru are Australia’s responsibility.
“It’s unethical of Australia to be sending people to a hospital in Papua New Guinea where health resources are very, very stretched and it’s wrong of us to tying up their resources with our patients.”
Australia stops taking patients from Nauru
Detainees from Nauru needing medical treatment will soon be sent to hospital in Papua New Guinea rather than Australia.
Australia’s Department of Immigration and Border Protection says Nauru’s government has been seeking medical backup treatment options.
A spokesperson says an agreement has been made with Papua New Guinea for specialist care for transferees and refugees at the private Pacific International Hospital in Port Moresby.
The Department says if the necessary medical treatment is not available in Papua New Guinea then the Nauru Government will be guided by health professionals to find alternative arrangements.
Asylum seekers detained in Nauru by the Australian government have previously been sent to Australia for medical care.
