Comment: Inter-Island referrals in Solomon Islands: a remote hospital perspective.

We thank Negin, Martiniuk, Farrell and Dalipanda for their contribution in Rural and Remote Health to the field of interisland referrals in the Solomon Islands. We agree that the provision of quality health services to people in remote areas is central to global efforts to achieve universal access to health care. We note with interest their findings that outline the increasing costs involved in referring patients to the National Referral Hospital (NRH) from the provinces, and the current Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) underbudgeting for these costs.