The forum is the first of a series of public meetings the Parliamentary Special Select Committee are expected to carry out before reporting to Parliament.

In his opening remarks at today's forum, Committee Chairman Peter Boyers says the Committee wanted comments from the public on the matter.

Mr Boyers says the purpose of the inquiry is to review the quality of medical services at the hospital and to resolve a systematic problem that has existed for sometime.

The issues include a general lack of adequate training for hospital staff, inadequate funding as well as shortage of human resources to effectively provide clinical health care.

He says the issues have greatly impacted on the National Referral Hospital and his Committee strongly believes that this must be addressed.

Just under fifty witnesses from the general public in West Honiara attended the meeting.