K7mil for new health centres

By Gynnie Kero
THE Government has allocated K7 million to build eight new health centres this year in six provinces – Manus, East Sepik, Jiwaka, Western, Central and Chimbu.
Health and HIV/Aids Minister Sir Puka Temu said the Government wanted to invest in places where people “go to receive their medicines”.
“The 2018 Budget provided the biggest ever investment in our medical supplies and distribution system,” he said.
“The budget allocated K266 million for medical supplies, procurement and distribution.”
Sir Puka said an important part of the medical supplies system was the area stores such as the one at Badili in Port Moresby which cost K1.5 million to refurbish.
There is a new area medical store in Kokopo while the ones in Mt. Hagen and Lae plus the transit stores in Jiwaka, Manus and Central are being renovated.
“The budgetary allocation for health is rising significantly. Expenditure on health in 2018 will increase by 14 per cent from last year’s Supplementary Budget,” Sir Puka said.
“This year, one kina in every 10 is spent by the Government on the health of our people. And medical supplies is the single largest component of that expenditure.
“The 2018 Budget provides K3 million over five years to establish more community health posts.”
He said health was featured prominently in the Alotau Accord Two.
“I am fully committed to rebuilding our health infrastructure, delivering the free basic health care policy, and getting our medical supplies and distribution system working,” he said.