Tonga’s Minister of Health, Dr ‘Ana ‘Akau‘ola, has made a heartfelt request to the public, asking them to stop demeaning and disrespecting hospital staff.
The plea came just hours before a video of what appeared to be a shivering patient lying unattended in a hospital chair circulated widely on Facebook, amplifying public outrage over healthcare standards.
Kaniva News could not verify the authenticity of the footage, and the hospital could not be reached for comment.
Some commenters claimed that the patient was recorded on video after being admitted to Vaiola Hospital.
Dr ‘Akau’ola emphasised during a press conference in Nuku’alofa this afternoon that harsh criticisms demoralise healthcare workers, with some nurses threatening to quit (“litaueli”).
“I urge the public to stop these comments—they do not help patients or those treating them,” she said.
Her appeal comes after years of social media backlash against the ministry, which has faced accusations of negligence, long wait times, and unprofessional conduct.
The Minister acknowledged that some patients first seek care from local healers, only arriving at hospitals in critical condition, a factor she says exacerbates challenges for staff.
However, public frustration persists.
The Ministry faced intensified scrutiny following a high-profile allegation involving the death of a mother due to alleged medical negligence.
Viliami Takau, CEO of Tonga Tourism, publicly confronted the Minister during a national summit, stating, “You cannot bring my wife back to life.”
He revealed he has launched legal action against the ministry, claiming her death resulted from their actions.
Takau also shared a separate incident involving his son, whose severed fingers required surgery.
After a Tongan doctor recommended an operation, he sought a second opinion in New Zealand, where physicians advised against it, warning of nerve damage.
“The advice here differed entirely,” he alleged in Tongan.
