Lack of govt funding may close hospital

Kudjip Hospital in Jiwaka will shut down and start referring patients to Mt Hagen and Kundiawa if the Government does not provide funding soon, Jiwaka Governor Dr William Tongamp told Parliament yesterday.
He said Kudjip was declared a provincial hospital in 2016 but had not received any government funding.
“The hospital was previously run by the Nazarene Church but was declared a provincial hospital by the government so since then it was excluded from the church health service budget,” Tongamp said.
“Since Kudjip became a provincial hospital, the government said that it would receive the same funding as others but to date it has not received any funding.
“Other hospitals that serve fewer patients are receiving K20 million and Kudjip also needs funding.
“The hospital has announced that it will close today, and by February 28, if it still does not receive any funding, it will start referring patients to Mt Hagen and Kundiawa.”
He called on the health minister to explain why the Jiwaka government did not receive funding.
Health and HIV/AIDS Minister Sir Puka Temu said they were working hard to address the issue.