Leaders should use own funds to seek treatment

EVERY time an ordinary Papua New Guinean needs specialist medical care, they and their families have to hold fund-raising events for weeks because our leaders have failed us by not providing good hospitals.
As a result, many of our people are dying everyday because of that.
Anyone who has been sick knows that time is of the essence and we cannot afford days, weeks, months to raise funds.
I was in Singapore recently and decided to take a look at the famous Raffles Hospital where Sir Michael Somare was treated.
It is an amazing esta­blishment that is fully air-conditioned with the best doctors and nurses, and the latest medical equipment.
The equipment the hospital has are so advanced that Port Moresby General Hospital looks like an aid post in the outback.
When I thought about what we have back home, I became sad and said to myself  Papua New Gui­nean taxpayers deserve better.
We deserve to have our own Raffles Hospital.
People like Sir Michael have no qualms spending more than K3 million of public funds to cure themselves but for the rest of us, we need to raise funds and, often, die waiting.
I am a taxpayer and I have a right to say how my taxes should be spent.
I say people like Sir Michael should hold fund raisers or use their own money just like everyone else.
If they have personal health problems, they should not use public funds.
People like them should be made to feel how tough it is to raise funds.

Heart attack victim
Lorengau