Dopsie: Chinese medical team a great help

THE health sector has been a beneficiary of the strong ties between the PNG and Chinese governments through the services provided by the Chinese medical team at the Port Moresby General Hospital (PMGH).
Acting health secretary Paul Dopsie expressed this when farewelling the fourth Chinese medical team and welcoming their replacements to the country last Thursday night at the Grand Palace Restaurant in Port Moresby.
“The inclusion of these Chinese medical teams over the past eight years at the nation’s premier referral and teaching hospital has been invaluable to the people of PNG,” he said.
“They have provided support to most of our major clinical areas which include our surgical, medical, paediatric, obstetric and gynaecology and pathology services.”
Dopsie made reference to the eight key result areas of the new national health plan which he said emphasised on the need for strengthening of partnerships and coordination with stakeholders.
He said: “Partnerships like the one we have with China falls directly under this focus area.
The department is committed to seeing the enhancement of such partnerships that have mutual benefits for all countries concerned.”
Dospie said the service given by the Chinese medical team was timely given that the country was in need for additional clinical specialists and allied health professionals.
Chinese ambassador to PNG, Qui Bohua said the medical cooperation was a very important part in the two countries’ bilateral relations.
He said the Chinese government started sending medical teams to PNG in 2002 to support PNG reduce poverty and develop PNG’s economy.