Urgent question on shortage of metformin diabetes tablets disallowed by Speaker

An urgent oral question on the shortage of metformin tablets which is used for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes has been disallowed by the Speaker of Parliament Ratu Epeli Nailatikau.

This urgent oral question was submitted by NFP parliamentarian Lenora Qereqeretabua.

In his ruling this morning, Ratu Epeli said he believed that the question by Qereqeretabua was of national importance but it does not relate to a specific issue or an event that had occurred in the past two or three days before the sitting.

Ratu Epeli further said that he is satisfied that the Minister for Health and Medical Services Doctor Ifereimi Waqainabete had sufficiently addressed the shortage of metformin tablets on 15th February, 2021.

The Speaker of Parliament adds the Health Minister even confirmed that the shortage is of a global concern and not only for Fiji.

Ratu Epeli says they will leave the matter at that.