Solomons MPs jet overseas for treatment while many citizens wait
An ABC investigation raises questions about whether some Solomon Islands MPs and officials have received publicly funded care overseas worth thousands of Australian dollars when cheaper in-country treatment has been available.
In Solomon Islands, many citizens are facing challenges accessing necessary medical treatment. Last year, Anna Bugotu, a single mother, sought help for rheumatic heart disease but found the required surgery unavailable locally. Like her, numerous citizens have turned to fundraising for overseas treatment. In contrast, Solomon Islands MPs and their families enjoy funding for such overseas medical care, which they can utilize even when treatment is locally available.
This disparity has raised questions about whether some MPs have received publicly funded care when in-country options were viable.
Under parliamentary entitlements, MPs can receive financial support for overseas treatment if the care is deemed essential, treatable, and unavailable locally. However, critics argue that some MPs have obtained funding despite doctors initially recommending in-country treatment or when cheaper alternatives existed. There are also concerns about potential political pressure on doctors to approve such referrals.
Sources reveal that in the five years prior to 2026, multiple MPs sought overseas treatment first, only to seek approval afterward. One case involved an MP seeking nearly $27,000 in care, marked as a government expense. Additionally, whistleblowers claim some doctors have felt pressured by politicians to sign off on referrals after treatment has already been provided.
The situation worsens when considering that the amount spent on overseas health care for MPs in 2025 surpassed the designated funds for ordinary Solomon Islanders. The Prime Minister's Office reportedly spent around $1.5 million on MPs' overseas medical treatments, whereas only $1.2 million was set aside for the broader population.
The Solomon Islands Attorney-General acknowledged the existence of two systems for MPs to access overseas care. While one is through parliamentary entitlements, another, operated by the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, has been in use since 2024. The Prime Minister expressed concerns about the potential politicization of this alternative funding system, promising to channel all future funding through the Parliamentary Entitlements Commission, which operates under stricter legal requirements.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
