Sacking of Niblett uncalled for

NEWS this week that the country’s top cancer specialist has been ordered to leave must have shocked many in the medical profession and others who have known as patients, relatives of patients or acquaintances.
As reported in this paper yesterday, the chief oncologist at the National Cancer Treatment Centre in Lae, Dr John Niblett, has been advised by the Department of Health that his contract would not be renewed.
And worse, he was ordered to leave within a week from last Friday.
Dr Niblett is a well-known oncologist or cancer specialist in the country and for a long time has been considered the face of the National Cancer Treatment Centre at Angau Memorial General Hospital in Lae.
His services to the country – going to back to pre-Independence years – will, however, end abruptly this week thanks to a bureaucratic decision.
It appears that for the last six months, the doctor has been asking the department for an assurance that his contract would be renewed but has not received any word from Waigani.
He was shocked when he was given the letter last Friday which gave him very little time to weigh his options and to pack up and leave.
He said: “This gives me little time to pack and leave after a total of 21 years of service to PNG.
“That also cancels my future projects to build a children’s cancer ward and getting more drugs from funds raised by PNG Cancer Relief Society.
“Instead of going for leave, I’m being forced to leave on short notice, to my disadvantage.”
While we appreciate that it is the prerogative of the departmental head to hire and fire, this treatment given  to someone who has spent over a decade working in the country is rather heartless, to say the least.
The ultimatum given to Dr Niblett and his wife Andrea, who has tirelessly and faithfully supported the work done by her husband in raising much-needed funds for the cancer treatment centre, is uncalled for.
In all fairness, the Nibletts ought to have been advised within the past six months about the termination of his contract.
For reasons only known to the top management of the health department, that manner of courtesy was never extended to the doctor and his wife.
That is an odd way of saying thank you to someone who has served the department faithfully.
Dr Niblett  and his team have battled many odds to ensure that the NCTC remained operational.
The biggest problems faced by the centre over the years have been a chronic shortage of funding and outdated equipment.
The centre has enjoyed generous support from the business community and other generous supporters who have come to its aid at some point in time to enable it to continue operating.
And Andrea Niblett has had a hand personally in some of that fund raising work.
The centre treats about 500 new patients per year apart from the daily numbers at the outpatient department ranging between 30 and 50.
Because of the growing number of cancer patients throughout the country who report to the on referral point at the National Cancer Treatment Centre, there is a need for four oncologists apart from staff already on hand.
Cancer is a growing concern in the country but the response by the Department of Health has not been reflective of this owing to its own budget constraints over the years.
The department has not been able to replace the outdated Cobalt cancer treatment at the cancer treatment centre in Lae.
Given its inability over the years to upgrade and adequately equip the National Cancer Treatment Centre using its own devices, the department of health would certainly require outside help through the public-private partnership.
And such partnerships are built over time based on relationships and trust.
Dr Niblett has established such relationships and gained the trust of the community and organisations such as the PNG Cancer Relief Society.
He has plans to build a children’s cancer ward and purchase more drugs.
Ordering him out of his job and the country may be a huge setback for these planned projects and cancer treatment in the country generally.