Malabag sets health priorities

By DULCIE OREKE
HEALTH Minister Michael Malabag wants to transform the health sector into a vibrant one to improve the health of the people.
“I cannot do it myself but I will lead you and we will all work together,” he said.
Malabag said Papua New Guinea had the Vision 2050, the Strategic Development Plan, the National Health Plan, the Health Sector Development Plan, and strategic priorities that he would lead to implement and achieve results.
Speaking at the opening of the week-long 48th Medical Symposium in Port Moresby yesterday, he said he would work towards developing the health workforce plan and increase the workforce to meet the growing population pressure.
Malabag said that they would ask the government to continue to fund rehabilitation of health facilities and training institutions.
“We must equip our hospitals with modern medical equipment and train our officers to operate them so that we do not need to travel abroad for medical services,” he said.
He said there was a need to continue to implement the “One system Tasol” Act to provincial health authorities to improve service delivery.
Malabag said there was a need to improve the country’s governance systems so that resources given to the health sector were managed in a more transparent manner to benefit the people.