Fix country’s health system

THE ongoing reports in the media outlining the failing health system in the country indicates that the problem lies within the Health Department.
Whether it is the shortage of medicines, the lack of qualified people in our hospitals and health centres or the state of infrastructure in many provinces, the reality is that unless we fix the department, Papua New Guineans will continue to suffer.
We have billions of kina in revenue through our resources sector.
We have large corporate citizens funding millions to the health sector.
We have billions in aid, especially over the last 12 months.
Yet, our citizens can’t access basic healthcare or assistance in an emergency.
We’ve seen the Public Accounts Committee inquiry into the supply and procurement of medicines and medical supplies that highlighted serious flaws in the process and corruption mounting to millions of kina.
But nothing has changed.
We’ve seen foreign governments build hospitals in regions only to have them sit idle while people in the villages around them die because of lack of services.
We have hardworking frontline health workers who cannot do enough to help their patients.
Some do their jobs without pay and proper equipment.
Our Health Department is the perfect example of an incompetent Government department. Just as PNG Power Ltd, who’s one job is to supply the country with electricity and can’t do it, the Health Department isn’t ensuring that the health of the people is well taken care of.
This is all because of poor leadership.
Prime Minister James Marape needs to stop indulging in politics and appoint a Health minister who wants to get things done and serve his people instead of his own interest.
The success of any country is measured by education and the health of its people.
Our people are dying.
Our people are sick.
We can celebrate being independent, but after the celebrations, reality kicks in.
We need a healthy population to build our future.

Fix PNG Health System