Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has refused a request by the nation’s peak doctor’s body to allow a group of medical experts to assess asylum seekers on Manus Island - the Australian Medical Association claims.
The AMA met with Mr Dutton on Wednesday to discuss the proposition from the group, but they said the request was shut down.
Instead, the AMA said it was given assurances from Mr Dutton that the level of health care at the two new accommodation facilities - where the men are being held - would be enhanced.
“Unfortunately, despite our strong arguments, the government has at this stage rejected our request,” AMA Federal President Michael Gannon said in a statement.
It's claimed Mr Dutton promised the group that he would act immediately on improving healthcare services on Manus as well as the flow of information on the health of the asylum seekers.
It's understood that this included the fast-tracking of a replacement Chief Medical Officer position and the restoration of a trauma and torture counselling service on Manus Island.
“It is disappointing that we cannot send an independent medical team immediately to Manus, but we welcome the minister’s pledges of greater transparency... and the efforts to improve the health service arrangements,” Dr Gannon said.
“The minister said that he, too, was committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of the asylum seekers who are the responsibility of the Australian Government," he claimed.
Meanwhile, refugees said a group of angry landowners on Manus Island have driven away a foreign staff working as case managers for the refugees.
The staff were forced off the island after protesters demanded a local company be given the employment contract instead.
Landowners protested by blocking the entry to one of the refugee accommodation centres.
Meanwhile, refugees are also reporting at least two Pakistani asylum seekers have been removed for deportation.
It's claimed the men were collected by PNG immigration officials and moved to Port Moresby.
