Keep politics out of PHA, official says

The establishment of the provincial health authority (PHA) in Gulf should be done without any political interference as people’s health cannot be compromised, Kerema General Hospital chief executive Moses Uvaipi says.
Uvaipi, a committed and passionate health administrator who took the Kerema General Hospital from being a mobile clinic in the 1990s to a level-five hospital, said this was view of PHAs in the country and particularly its implementation in Gulf.
“Establishment of PHAs in the provinces under the reform is a good concept,” he said.
“But one thing that I feel is very important to stress here is that any new reforms and systems that are designed and implemented anywhere is only as good as the people who are administering it.”
Uvaipi said the establishments, administration and delivery of healthcare services and systems were something that could not be compromised at any level of government.
“When you talk about health, it’s a life and death matter and must be treated with total care and be independent of any undue influence,” he said.
“But it is very concerning that politics have already infiltrated into the establishment of Gulf PHA.
“As far as health services are concerned for Kerema and Gulf, the board and management of Kerema hospital have done their very best to bring the hospital from a mobile clinic to a level-five hospital.
“All this was achieved through funding support from the public investment programme (PIP) parked at the National Planning Department with nil support from the provincial government otherwise, the entire Gulf people will be running to Port Moresby for health services.
“I was surprised to learn last week that a letter was addressed to the provincial health adviser for Gulf, Ben Bal, as the CEO.
“This is a total lie and very misleading as I am the hospital CEO.
“I have confidence in new Health Minister Elias Kapavore, who is an experienced health administrator, that he will ensure political influence is eliminated to ensure transparent establishment of Gulf PHA and the appointment of its executives.”
Meanwhile, Health Secretary Pascoe Kase confirmed to The National yesterday that Uvaipi was the hospital’s CEO.