11 Feb 2019

Nauru refugees receive new telehealth service

From , 5:02 am on 11 February 2019

The humanitarian organisation Médecins Sans Frontières has launched a telehealth service in Australia to care for people on Nauru.

It comes after the group, also known as Doctors Without Borders was ordered off the island in October, ending its service for refugees and Nauruans.

On Thursday, it started a free service involving physchological consultations with doctors in Australia via video or phone.

Dr Christine Rufener, a clinical psychologist with Médecins Sans Frontières, says since October, health conditions have deteriorated in Nauru.

She told Mackenzie Smith that her former patients have faced long waits for treatment and an increase in distress and self-harm attempts.

The Nibok refugee settlement, Nauru.

The Nibok refugee settlement, Nauru. Photo: Pool / NZ Herald / Jason Oxenham