A call for authorities to consider making health checks a requirement for all candidates running for Parliament has cropped up again.
The issue has been increasingly debated recently after four MPs died in two years while or after seeking medical treatments overseas.
The latest call comes a month before Tongatapu 10 voters go to the polls to elect a new MP after former MP Pohiva Tuionetoa died in March.
Five candidates were officially named after a registration process on Wednesday 7.
The announcement of the candidates yesterday triggered a debate on social media with one PTOA (Democrats Party) group drawing its followers’ attention to the important of MPs being physically fit.
“Maybe the most important thing is their having good health”, a Facebook poster said in Tongan.
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Some commenters said some people in the past knew they were unwell, but insisted on getting to Parliament so they would be entitled to be sent overseas for treatment.
Responding, another commenter said: “Absolutely right”.
“Tongatapu 10 it is about time for you to watch carefully especially those who appeared to be overweight they were people who are at risk of being unwell”.
“People who looked unfit could end up being sent to New Zealand to see a specialist”, one commenter wrote.
Some said it was a good idea to make health checks a law to help reduce the cost to taxpayers of sending MPs and Ministers overseas for medical appointments.
The call came after former Prime Minister and MP Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa died in the United States in March. His family paid for his medical treatment, but he still received his salary from government while he was there.
In 2021 his Deputy Prime Minister, Sione Vuna Fa’otusia, died after spending months in a New Zealand hospital for medical treatment.
In June 2022 the former Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry, Viliami Manuopangai Hingano, died in Auckland City Hospital while receiving medical treatment.
In November 2022 the former Minister of Fisheries, Semisi Fakahau, died after returning from a medical appointment in New Zealand.
There were also similar cases of former Prime Ministers and MPs passing away while on medical treatment in Auckland.
This is not the first time the public has been concerned about MPs and Cabinet Ministers’ overseas medical treatment entitlements.
Early this year a Parliamentary press release announced that Hon. Tu’i’onetoa’s family had paid for his medical treatment in the US. It prompted a call for the Speaker to confirm whether he was also still receiving his salaries. Parliament later confirmed that Tu’i’onetoa was still being paid while in the US.
At the time a heated debate erupted on social media, with calls for the authorities to review the MPs’ entitlements to reduce unnecessary spending of tax revenue.
This included suggestions that MPs who were unwell should be first tested in Tonga and if their conditions were terminal they should not be sent overseas.
The official candidates for the July 13, 2023 by-election are:
1. Matani Nifofā, Kolonga
2. Senimili Tu’i’onetoa Fonua, Makaunga
3. Daniel Kimball Fale, Lapaha
4. Kapelieli Militoni Lanumata, Lapaha
5. Dr. Fotu Kuohiko Valeli Fisi’iahi, Niutoua
