Sir Mekere: Govt cannot ignore health service study

The National National

Reports of deteriorating health services throughout the country by a prominent journalist and blogger should not be brushed aside by the Government, Moresby Northwest MP Sir Mekere Morauta says.
“The Government is spending millions of kina in preparing for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) meeting while a research conducted by Scott Waide has revealed that medical supply claims by Health and HIV-AIDS Minister Sir Puka Temu are misleading,” he said.
“Waide’s research, conducted during the past week, demonstrates that there is a critical shortage of medicines and other medical supplies across the nation.”
Some examples of the information gathered by Waide, a Lae-based EMTV journalist, and provided by informants include:

  • Lae urban clinics: No antibiotics, painkillers, malaria medicine, family planning drugs, penicillin injections, syringes, forceps, surgical scissors, diabetes test strips, gloves, face masks and other consumables;
  • South Koroba clinic: No antibiotics – capsules, tablets or in suspension. No painkillers;
  • Lawes Road Cinic, Port Moresby: Antibiotics and painkillers shortages;
  •  Kwikila Station Hospital has shortage of many medicines and medical supplies;
  • Kimbe: Widespread shortages;
  • Mt Hagen hospital: No TB drugs;
  • Oro clinic, Northern, serving 2000 people: No antibiotics, no painkillers or other basic supplies such as gauze, gloves and adhesives.
  • Bougainville: No medicine in Buka.
  • Madang provincial clinic: No antibiotics or painkillers.
  • Hela PHA hospital: Shortage of vital drugs such as antibiotics; and,
  • Angau Hospital: Also facing shortage in medicine and is under additional pressure because of shortages and stockouts in Lae clinics.