Late Rex Wanzing

He made this statement following questions raised by East Sepik Governor, Allan Bird on the floor of Parliament on the progress of the report on Tuesday.  

“I would like to know if a finding has been made and if so, has that been made available to the family. If not, why not?

“There are others who actually suffer sometimes from treatment at the public hospital and it is not just the case of young Rex.

Dr. Liko was responding to questions raised by the media on the progress of the report during a recent press conference.

He said the investigation team is awaiting the “toxicology” report before it can submit the complete report to Parliament, and for public consumption.

“The report will be ready by this week. The report cannot be completed without the toxicology report,” he said.

The Health Secretary said as part of the investigation, tissues were taken from the late teenager and was sent to a pathology lab in Melbourne, Australia for analysis.

The small ceremony was attended by his grade seven classmates from the Carr Memorial School, friends and family members.

The story of Late Rex Wanzing touched many people around the country, including members of Parliament like member for Pomio, Elias Kapavore and East Sepik Governor Allan Bird who demanded for an inquest into his death.

Today is exactly two months and ten days since he passed.

Parents, Ben and Raela Mary Wanzing were at the Waigani District court this morning where the case is being registered at the court registry for a Coroner’s inquest into the death of their son.

“The post-mortem has been done already and this week will be the sixth week since he passed on. We thought the case was registered by the Hospital (POMGH) with the Coroner, however when we wanted to take the body to lay to rest, the Coroner said the case was never reported,” said Mrs Wanzing.

The question was raised before parliament on yesterday.

“What rights do the family have to claim from the health system and the State for the unfortunate and terrible loss of this young life plus the other six who were all affected on the same day by the use of this substandard medication,” asked Governor Bird.

Prime Minister James Marape could not answer the question saying he is yet to receive the report on what had transpired on the 12^th of August.

The  Propofol Injection, which had fatal effects on the lives of seven patients on 12^th of August during surgery at the Port Moresby General Hospital.

This newsroom understands from these seven patients, four of them died including late 14-year old Rex Wanzing.

According to a circular from Dr. Osborn Liko, the anaesthetic drug in question was manufactured in India.

Product Name: “Propofol Injection IP 10mg/mL vial (1% W/V)

Manufacture: Cooper Phama Limited, India