Viral email about funding Dr. Fong’s farewell was from an earlier email, arrangements have since been updated - Health Ministry

The Ministry of Health says an internal email correspondence currently being shared on social media regarding the farewell function of former Permanent Secretary was from an earlier meeting and was meant for internal circulation and the ministry is concerned that the email has been shared beyond the intended recipients.

In the email, Ministry staff are being invited to attend the farewell on the 26th of January in the North where funding and contributions funding for the trip will be sourced from their respective Cost Centre budget.

The Ministry says arrangements for the farewell function have since been updated in subsequent meetings of the organizing committee.

They say the Ministry stands by the Minister for Health Dr Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu's assurance that taxpayer’s money will not be used for the proposed farewell event.

The Ministry adds they are also committed to continue to abide by existing financial management regulations for the utilization of the budget allocated to the Ministry in this financial year.