Centre a boost for research

By LULU MARK
Sir Brian Bell Centre for Transfusion Medicine presents a way forward for medical research in Papua New Guinea, doctors say.
The automated blood grouping and cross-matching machine in the upgraded laboratory can test for rare blood groups and brings about important aspects of possibilities of research.
University of PNG School of Medicine and Health Science executive vice-dean Prof Nakapi Tefuarani said a centre could not be led without research.
He said medical schools had a hospital in which students were taught and clinical practicals conducted, hence, they cannot be separated.
“Opening of the transfusion centre is an important phase for training in PNG,” Tefuarani said,
“Having this facility will take the medical school, with support from Port Moresby General Hospital (PMGH), way ahead of the standard we have now.
“This is about the credibility of the standard of teaching and a move forward for health education in PNG.
“Transfusion medicine is now a field and we can have post-graduate training at PMGH.
“We change a lot of courses and add new courses, so transfusion medicine will be another field that School of Medicine and Health Sciences will work on together with the PMGH.
Tefuarani thanked PMGH for avenues provided to enhance the level of education in the country.
“Patient care, education and research are the three important pillars of health care facilities,” PMGH chief executive officer Dr Umesh Gupta said.
“Transfusion medicine is a stand-alone specialty in the hospital that requires a lot of knowledge and skills to guide it appropriately.
“We are in the process of starting new super specialties and the government has funded a heart and cancer centre.
“There are other centres that will be opening in the near future.
All these specialised centres will require a lot of blood and it was timely to have the blood transfusion centre up and running first,” said Gupta.