The new Minister of Health, Robert Bohn, visited the Vanuatu National Hospital (VNH) yesterday to assess services and meet medical staff.

During the visit, Mr. Bohn toured hospital facilities and spoke with doctors, nurses and support staff. He said staff appeared committed and capable, but the system requires further improvement, particularly in staffing levels, training and infrastructure.

“We have an urgent need for more staff, and while the facilities are good, they need to be better,” he said. “We are proud of what is being done today, but there is more to do tomorrow. Human resources remain the key issue.”

He said staffing levels are currently well below requirements, while many hospital facilities, built in the late 1960s and early 1970s, are no longer suited to current needs.

“The hospital was designed decades ago and is not built for today’s demands in 2026,” he said. Minister Bohn said health services require increased investment in both infrastructure and workforce development.

He said government funding decisions often involve competing priorities, but health must remain central, as access to healthcare is a basic human need.

“We may not have all the resources we want, but access to healthcare is a basic right. A healthy population is essential,” he said.

He compared budget allocations, noting education receives about VT13 billion, while health receives considerably less, adding that stronger funding for the health sector is needed.

VNH was originally designed to serve about 300,000 people, but population growth has placed additional pressure on services.

Minister Bohn said plans for a new national hospital have been discussed for 30 years and should be progressed alongside improvements in Santo. “We need a Vanuatu National Hospital South in Port Vila and a national hospital in the north in Luganville,” he said. “That would be the ideal situation, but we must start with a facility that delivers specialist services such as cancer care, radiology and oncology. These require major investment in infrastructure and training.”

He said health needs exist across all provinces and not in one region alone, adding that a balanced national approach is required.

“We have established the Vanuatu Progressive Development Party. Through the party, a health centre has been built in the south of Epi, and work is underway on four new dispensaries, including staff housing and water supply systems. Each facility is being fitted with 25,000-litre water tanks and solar power installations,” Mr. Bohn said.

“These projects are progressing on Epi, but similar work is needed across all islands. The Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister have recently returned from the Torres group in the far north.”

The minister said he visited Hiu Island in 1988 and believes the island requires a dispensary as well as improved education facilities.

Mr. Bohn said coordination with the Minister of Education will support joint development projects for health and education facilities in remote communities, including Hiu.

He said smaller islands also require upgrades to existing aid posts and clinics, while Port Vila and surrounding areas need expanded health services.

Original source: vu