Medical university can cater for doctor shortage, official says

PAPUA New Guinea needs a medical university to train more doctors to meet the high demand, an official says.
Port Moresby General Hospital (PMGH) chief of internal medicine Prof Sir Isi Kevau said the University of PNG (UPNG) School of Medicine and Health Science was producing 40-50 doctors yearly.
Sir Isi was one of the first doctors to graduate from UPNG in 1973.
He said PNG had grown and developed in terms of population and standards and it was about time more doctors were produced.
Sir Isi said he was happy to see doctors he had trained taking the lead in delivering health services.
“There are not enough doctors for a population of eight million-plus.”
He said one medical school was unable to meet the increasing demand for doctors.
He thanked the Chinese medical team for imparting invaluable knowledge to local experts and students at the medical school.
Sir Isi acknowledged them for the commitment they had shown during their stay in the country.
Health secretary Pascoe Kase also acknowledged that there was a shortage of doctors and health workers in PNG.
He said it was good to have visiting medical team from oversees who assisted in the delivery of health services and imparting knowledge.