Cancer facility gets K105m

THE Government has fulfilled its funding commitment by delivering K105 million to the National Cancer Centre since 2022 to upgrade its facility and equipment.
Health minister Dr Lino Tom confirmed this and said that included the K50 million for the third phase of construction which was the critical phase.
Dr Tom said: “K38 million for cancer equipment and K17 million for the brachytherapy, internal radiation treatment.
“With all funding in place, the centre anticipates that it would be ready to receive its first patient in the second quarter of 2025.”
He said Port Moresby General Hospital (PMGH) and the Health Department were building the national health workforce capacity to deliver specialist cancer services, in collaboration with global institutions. “The Government will continue to proactively address cancer as a priority health issue, through support for complementary initiatives: to deliver high quality, affordable cancer services for PNG and strengthen prevention, screening, and early detection of cancer,” he said.
The hospital’s chief executive officer Dr Paki Molumi expressed gratitude to the Government for its commitment to prioritising the health and wellbeing of citizens.
Dr Molumi said: “The cancer centre once completed will be equipped with two linear accelerator cancer machines, a brachytherapy unit, nuclear medicine department installed with SPECT, PET, CT and a Chemotherapy Unit.”
He said that the Government had fully funded the project and the hospital had been working hard to complete Phase III.
“We are working hard to complete Phase III construction which is the critical engineering services phase,” he said.
“The Government awarded this contract of K50 million in September 2023.”
He said toward the end of 2023, a further K55 million was released for procurement of cancer equipment and fit out of the facility and completion of the brachytherapy unit.
“PMGH will be working hard to ensure the construction is completed on schedule,” he said.
“Cancer equipment procurement process has started to ensure the equipment is installed and commissioned by the second quarter of 2025.”
Prime Minister James Marape had commended Dr Tom for his commitment towards the realisation of cancer centre.
“I commend Dr Tom, who is one of our hard-working ministers, for diligently working towards making the centre a reality,” Marape said.
“With significant steps having been taken towards achieving our vision of having PNG’s first comprehensive cancer centre in operation by 2025.”
Additionally, he welcomed the collaborative efforts between PMGH, Health
Department and global institutions in building national health workforce capacity to deliver specialist cancer services.