Cubans not seen as best prescription for doctor shortage

By Rebecca Kuku
CUBAN doctors are not the immediate solution to the shortage of doctors in the country, says National Doctors’ Association secretary Dr Sam Yockopua.
Yockopua said that although PNG needed doctors, bringing them in from Cuba was not necessarily the solution.
“We have many doctors who are doing temporary and locum jobs while others are still looking for jobs,” he said.
“We can start with recruiting local doctors, by getting the correct formula in the public system we can attract and retain them.”
Yockopua said the Departments of Health should find a way to create new positions and deliberately look for these officers and employ them.
“Not only do we need doctors but also the other cadres of health workers,” he said.
“We must first get them on board as a matter of immediate priority, pay them well, look after them.”
Yockopua said health workers should be well resourced and working conditions improved. “Make sure there are medicines and consumables, they cannot work bare handed,” he said. “Only then we can look elsewhere, get the Cubans, Indians, Filipinos or whoever, otherwise it’s another sad dream.”
Yockopua also called on the Government to support the School of Medicine and Health Sciences.
“It must immediately amalgamate with Port Moresby General Hospital to initiate the formation of a stand-alone medical institute,” he said.
“Currently, there are 40-50 doctors produced per year, but if we have a stand-alone medical institute, it can produce 200-300 doctors and the other cadres of medical and health professions as well.”