In 2018 Dr Michael Kalkoff, anaesthetist, joined the team. The Anaesthetic/Intensive Care Department in the Cook Islands is served by only one local anaesthetist. This means that the anaesthetist has to not only provide anaesthesia for the patients of the HSV but also be available for emergencies, whether a motor vehicle accident, burst appendix or caesarean section. To offer much-needed relief, Michael takes over the acute after-hours service during these visits.
In addition to his clinical duties, Michael provides valuable teaching to anaesthetic technicians and Intensive Care nurses. We also support the Cook Islands Anaesthetic Department with essential supplies, generously donated mainly by Medical Aid Abroad and Kensington Private Hospital. During the COVID-19 period (2021–2022), the local anaesthetist undertook two years of advanced training overseas, leaving a significant staffing gap. To ensure this training could continue uninterrupted, Michael was asked to organise locum cover through New Zealand anaesthetists. The response from our New Zealand colleagues was overwhelmingly positive, allowing the service to continue without interruption. In January 2023, Michael and his wife René—a surgical nurse—took a five-week sabbatical in the Cook Islands. Michael provided both elective and acute anaesthetic and intensive care services, while René worked in the surgical ward. Together, they also delivered training for local staff.
In addition to these activities, Michael is currently in the planning stages of establishing a medical telehealth service for the Cook Islands. This initiative aims to create a direct telehealth link between the outer islands and Rarotonga Hospital. Once implemented, this technology is expected to significantly improve access to medical care in the peripheral islands, enhancing communication, diagnosis, and clinical support across the region. This kind of ongoing support is fundamental to building sustainable, resilient healthcare systems in the Pacific and empowering local medical teams.
Right: Photo of a critically ill patient being transferred to a plane to be flown to New Zealand.
Putiputi Charitable Trust 