Health minister queried

IF what was revealed in The National on Nov 2 by “Concerned” was true then the minister for health, his department secretary and the Government owe the country and the hundreds of cancer sufferers, including the families of those who have succumbed to the sickness, some explanation.
Someone needs to explain why the relevant radiation and safety legislations has not been enacted and why PNG has not become a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The Government needs these done before we can bring into the country the much-needed Cobalt-60 teletherapy machine for the treatment of cancer?
The health minister seemed to always have answers and solutions to our medicine supply shortages and other medical problems, yet it now seems that this very critical piece of equipment for the treatment of one of the biggest killers in the country has never been addressed.
In the meantime, health centres continue to run out of essential medicines.
A medical staff actually cried when being interviewed about the shortage of medicine. The staff admitted having sent patients away without medicine because there was none available.
The health minister’s admittance of theft and misappropriation of medicines by staff in Government stores (The National Nov 5) confirms the inherent ongoing incompetence, mismanagement and lack of effective control and service delivery in the health system.
Can the minister and health secretary tell the nation when will the legislations and IAEA membership issues be addressed?

Concerned Citizen
POM