Health services boost

 THE opening of the new Pacific International Hospital health facilities is the result of public-private partnership, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill says.

O’Neill was accompanied by State Enterprises Minister Ben Micah, Health Minister Michael Malabag and several other ministers and members of the diplomatic corps at the opening last Friday.

It coincided with his 50th birthday and he welcomed heart, brain, eye, women and child health specialists and healthcare services.

 O’Neill said nearly 20 per cent of the government’s budget over three years had gone into health.

“Which is a huge increase in investment in this sector and I know that we will continue to do that. We are not only providing funding for infrastructure, but we are providing funding for training, providing funding for increased availability of equipment and medicines. 

“Remote centres in the country are receiving medicines on time and delivered on time to their respective aid posts.

“The government cannot do it alsone. We must partner the private sector,” O’Neill said.

“The health service provided at the new hospital will be subsidised because the government will be funding the treatment as well so that more Papua New Guineans can afford treatment in the country.

“Papuan New Guineans should take it seriously about their health and listen to health messages given by our health professionals because this will help us cut down on the increasing rate of diseases affecting our lives.”