He said the contract of the Tinian center’s lone doctor, Priyantha Wijayagunaratne, was not renewed. The mayor did not say why.
Tinian’s center, he added, can still take care of most of its patients.
Whenever a CHC doctor advises that a patient should be sent to Saipan, the Tinian center immediately arranges for the transfer, the mayor said.
“They can treat patients with minor ailments,” he said, referring to the Tinian center.
Some island residents have expressed concern about the lack of a doctor at the Tinian center, especially in case of an emergency.
But Dela Cruz said a physician assistant and midlevel health providers continue to provide services at the Tinian center.
The health center, he added, has already asked Public Health Secretary Joseph Kevin Villagomez to find a new doctor for Tinian.
