NZ medical specialists travel to Tonga to perform complex surgery on newborn
The deployment enabled specialist paediatric surgeon and PMA President, Dr Kiki Maoate, and paediatric anaesthetist Dr David Linscott to travel to Tonga and perform the complex operation alongside the local surgical team.
The baby was born with a serious lung condition that caused ongoing respiratory distress from just two days after birth.
"Without a chest drain, the child was dependent on oxygen and was quite short of breath," said Dr Alamea Fulivai, General Surgeon at Vaiola Hospital. "The chest drain had to be reinserted multiple times, making this a very challenging case."
The risks of transferring the patient to New Zealand were significant.
"Transporting a child with a chest drain is high risk and would likely require an air ambulance, which can cost up to NZD$70,000, which doesn't include the cost of treatment and hospital fees in New Zealand. This visit was an extremely cost-effective option for the Ministry of Health."
Dr Maoate said the deployment reflects the strength and flexibility of the NZMTS partnership, allowing specialist care to be delivered closer to home while building local capability.
"Being able to support our colleagues in Tonga to provide specialist treatment in-country that would otherwise require an overseas referral is the right thing to do. There is no displacement of the child and family, significant cost reduction at the same time increasing the capacity and capability of our colleagues in Tonga to manage these uncommon and complex conditions.
“The flexibility within the NZMTS program allows the countries to maximise how they utilise the allocated funds to provide health care for their people."
With the surgery being performed in Tonga, the baby's parents and wider family could remain close throughout the experience.
"It is incredibly important. Having the flexibility to allow this to happen in Tonga is a game changer. Our hope is that this is the future of treatment for our complex cases,” said Dr Fulivai.
The deployment also created valuable opportunities for knowledge sharing. The local clinicians were involved in every stage of the operation, gaining first-hand experience in performing a neonatal thoracotomy, identifying complex lung anatomy and safely removing a congenital lung abnormality.
"Watching the decision-making was priceless. There were some challenging moments during the operation, and learning how to manage and navigate those situations was a masterclass in itself."
The experience has strengthened the team's confidence and capability, with hopes that similar complex surgeries can one day be performed independently in Tonga.
Dr Maoate said the work reflects a broader commitment to improving access to specialist healthcare across the Pacific.
"We have an obligation to ensure that children in the Pacific countries have access to the same specialist expertise and opportunities regardless of where they live."
Reflecting on the wider impact, Dr Fulivai said the partnership demonstrated how specialist care, workforce development and sustainable health investment can all be achieved through a single deployment.