Laloki to become public hospital

 By MOUA OMOA

THE Department of Health has announced  that the Laloki Psychiatric Hospital will be turned into a public hospital.

Health Secretary Pascoe Kase and Minister for Health and HIV/AIDS Michael Malabag made the announcement this week.

Kase said the intention of the department was to take charge and effectively address some of the issues highlighted in the Public Accounts Committee.

He said issues faced by Laloki referred to many health institutions across the country that had deteriorated facilities.

“The government has already allocated funding and rehabilitation will take place but it will take time,” Kase said.

“We have advocated for an annual budget and so Laloki, when upgraded, will have all mechanisms of a public hospital to meet world standards as well as ours.” 

Malabag said  the department had been tasked to take care of the overcrowding and water supply issues which were on-going problems that were reflected at the PAC hearing.  

“I want to assure the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee that we will address these issues effectively,” Malabag said.

“There are other related issues which are faced across the country including proper administration and board, good management and in this term of government there will be changes.”

This move (to turn the Laloki Psychiatric hospital into a public hospital) comes after the Health Department was grilled on the poor state of the hospital, raising humanitarian concerns over the safety and living conditions for patients and staff.

Malabag announced that Nazarene Hospital would be turned into a public hospital as well.

He highlighted plans for Port Moresby General Hospital’s upgrading.