6 Feb 2018

CNMI hospital retains independence - bill dropped

2:09 pm on 6 February 2018

A bill to abolish the Northern Marianas hospital services provider, the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation, and replace it with a line agency run out of the Governor's Office has been formally withdrawn.

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Photo: 123RF

House of Representatives vice speaker Janet Maratita said she shelved the bill following a meeting with management at the corporation.

Ms Maratita said she was pleased the meeting addressed the challenges faced by both hospital patients and staff.

Ms Maratita had earlier blamed the corporation's alleged failure to comply with reporting requests, as well as its reported lack of transparency as the primary reason for trying to abolish it.

For many years the coporation has failed to function with the funding it receives from the government.

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