Some of the nation’s most senior clinicians are offering to provide free health checks on Manus Island refugees in need of medical care, calling on the government to facilitate their travel to Papua New Guinea.
The group includes the head of the Australian College of GPs, Professor Bastian Seidel, as well as former Australian of the Year award recipient, Professor Patrick McGorry, former presidents of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, among others.
“We believe that there should be an immediate, independent review of the health status of those still on Manus,” to the federal parliament.
“We are willing to conduct this review pro-bono, arranging the appropriate mix of clinical specialties.
“We would require the Australian government to negotiate the diplomatic permissions and officially sanction travel to and within PNG, as well as agree to clinical assessment of willing individuals.”
The detention centre on Manus Island closed last month.
More than 300 men who had been refusing to leave the decommissioned detention centre – saying they feared for their safety at the new facilities in the town of Lorengau – were finally forced out of the site by PNG authorities last week.
SBS World News has contacted the Department of Immigration for a response to the offer.
MSF medical team arrives in Manus
Doctors from the international aid group Medicins san Frontieres, or Doctors Without Borders, have arrived on Manus Island and are urging PNG authorities to allow them access to treat refugees.
MSF Australia president Dr Stewart Condon, who has travelled to Manus himself, said the team was ready to assist but was unable to access the transit centres where the asylum seekers are being held.
“We were given approval,” Dr Condon said in a video uploaded to his Twitter.
“It’s quite concerning we’ve been refused access for the last few days every day we’ve been trying. We know that the injured men inside who need medical attention haven’t found it yet.”
“We’re calling on the authorities to give us access urgently.”
Last Thursday, the MSF team found one who appeared to be dehydrated, malnourished and showed signs of severe depression.
But the team was unable to speak to him for any length of time, and was trying to follow up his progress.
Additional reporting: Rashida Yosufzai
