REPORT ON ROMAC

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Hi Everyone,

 

Some months back, you may recall that ROMAC (Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children) received some adverse publicity (especially in the ABC) for refusing to fund the medical operation required to separate conjoined twins from PNG.

 

I was curious about how ROMAC makes its decisions and contacted the Chair(person), Glenys Parton in New Zealand.

 

Glenys informed me of the following:

 

1. ROMAC has its own rules, by-laws, policies and criteria that are applied to each case.
    
2. Requests for funding must be made by referral, supported by medical evidence.
    
3. The first ROMAC heard that funding was sought for the twins was when the ABC contacted it.  There had been no referral!
    
4. When the referral subsequently arrived, it was apparent from the medical evidence that the separation procedure was extremely problematic.  Glenys was at pains to point out that ROMAC does not have a policy to only fund medical procedures with good prospects of success.  However, the prospects of success are a factor to be taken into account in making the decision whether to fund.
    
5. When the medical procedure was costed, it would have used almost all of ROMAC's funds.  This was another factor to be taken into account, namely whether it was the best use of ROMAC funds to benefit many children or, in this case, just two.
    
6. Furthermore, it is the practice of ROMAC to fund not only the medical procedure but also the follow up treatments.  It is obviously pointless returning children home without medical follow ups for their recovery and to ensure the best final outcomes.
    
7. It was apparent that the twins needed extensive post-operative follow up treatments.  ROMAC could not afford what was required.

 

The role of Glenys and her team is extremely difficult and requires the Wisdom Of Solomon.  

 

I was impressed that the above approach is sensible and appropriate, and the best use of ROMAC's limited resources.

 

ROMAC's refusal to fund the separation of the twins is undoubtedly very sad, but understandable when viewed in the above context.

 

 

Cheers,

 

Dero

0455 566 167