Doctors told not to create strike panic

Health Secretary Pascoe Kase has called on the National Doctors Association (NDA) not to create unnecessary panic among people.
He made the call after NDA threatened to withdraw its services in a nationwide strike tomorrow if their demand for payments of outstanding NDA awards, rentals and claims were not addressed.
Not long ago, doctors made the same threat twice to go on strike over their awards and an alleged assault of a medical officer by police in Port Moresby.
In January, medical academics at the University of PNG stopped work over claimed outstanding wages of about K5.6 million.
The 30 affected doctors have not been paid, according to the NDA awards negotiated with government in 2013 and came into effect on Jan 1, 2014.
In June, Newman Berry, a resident medical doctor at Port Moresby General Hospital, was allegedly assaulted by police officers at Tokarara in Port Moresby.
Kase said these were administrative issues that would be addressed.
“Insurance for doctors, money for church-run health services, funds for public hospitals and payments for suppliers and distributors of medical supplies will be paid this week,” he said.
“Despite the financial challenges, the government is funding health services and I can assure you that we will address the administrative issues raised.”
Kase said that he had met with NDA president James Naipao and his management team and had reached some understanding to move ahead with implementation of the issues raised.
“I have also discussed the issues with my senior management and advised the president that the issues raised were purely administrative that could be adequately addressed today (Wednesday).”
Meanwhile, NDA secretary Dr Sam Yockopua said Kase and Department of Personnel Management Secretary John Kali could be sued for contempt for breaching an agreement.