Tonga Health Ministry denies opposing moves to establish dialysis treatment clinic

The Ministry of Health says it supports the establishment of a dialysis clinic in the kingdom but will not allow an unprepared company who awaits its endorsement before money is injected by the donors.

Siosaia Moehau President of the Tonga Dialysis Foundation says government delayed their chances to allow dialysis treatment in Tonga after 2 years of waiting for a response to their proposal.

Radio Tonga reports Moehau says it is an attitudinal problem and restricted to things they did not understand.

He says they’re only concerned about people’s lives and the availability of such treatment which is not practiced in Tonga.

However, information from the Ministry of Health says the foundation can establish its clinic and get on with its work as long as this will not be an extra burden to the Ministry.

Ministry of Health says,it cannot operate a dialysis clinic because they do not have any facilities, equipment and staff have to be trained.

The foundation members include Poasi Tei, Mishka Tuifua, Sangster Saulala and Tomifa Paea.