Govt keen to upgrade Port Moresby hospital

THE Government is committed to upgrading the Port Moresby General Hospital from level 5 to 7, says Health and HIV/AIDS Minister Sir Puka Temu.
Sir Puka was responding to questions by Mul-Baiyer MP Koi Trappe in Parliament on Friday who also said more Papua New Guineans were seeking costly medical services overseas.
“We don’t have the cancer service, heart operation or coronary investigations,” Air Puka said.
“Under the Treasury support K30 million was allocated to POM General to ensure that the coronary care unit and cardiac angiography, cancer unit and kidney unit are established.
“In August, the coronary angiography and the coronary care unit will be opened, thanks to the leadership of the chairman of the hospital board Sir Theo Constantino and the hard-working chief executive officer and the team.
“I thank the leadership they are providing and the minister for planning for releasing K15 million so that the K30 million was appropriated.
“For the cancer unit, we are going to buy a new machine, a new generation of cancer treatment.
“Planning will release another K10 million of the K30 million and they will complete the design and the new cancer unit in February.
“I can then say that PNG has a capacity to provide super specialist services for our citizens to save money rather than travelling overseas.”