‘Focus on hospitals, rural health’

IT is important to carefully assess and monitor hospitals and the rural health network to ensure the already struggling health services do not fail the people.
East New Britain Governor Leo Dion made this comment when addressing the third provincial assembly meeting last week.
Dion said despite assurances there would be minimal negative impact on the health services delivery system, it was necessary to assess and monitor hospitals and health networks to ensure they did not fail.
He said the province recently lost the Area Medical Store in Rabaul to fire, saying it was an important infrastructure that supported the delivery of health services in the New Guinea Islands.
Dion said the facility had been receiving and storing medical supplies estimated to be worth almost K3 million.
“It is sad that the facility was neglected and allowed to deteriorate while the health department rented a warehouse with limited space for more than K216,000 per year,” Dion said.
He said it was a transitional arrangement for a year but it was now over three years.
Dion said while the province was progressing in its decision to relocate the specialist function to the new site at Putput, it was important not to ignore the deteriorating condition of facilities at Nonga Hospital.
This included the appalling condition of staff houses, the mortuary and stand-by generator.
Dion said it would be important that the Rabaul town local level government consider taking over mortuary and ambulance services so that the hospital could concentrate on “saving lives”.
He said the provincial executive council had not made any decisions for the province to adopt the provincial health authority.
He said there were many issues affecting staffing, financial and structural arrangements that might further complicate the situation.
“While we await information from the pilot provinces, I believe there is a need for effective working dialogue between the hospital and rural health services which can be achieved without being forced by legislations,” Dion said.