Medicine is here, says Sir Puka

ANTIBIOTIC medicines have now been delivered to the Lae Area Medical Store (AMS) and available for distribution, says Health and HIV/AIDS Minister Sir Puka Temu.
Hospitals and health facilities should contact the AMS to have their orders actioned, he said.
The minister said reports focusing on the health system and lack of medical supplies contained both facts and exaggeration.
“As we come into the festive season, I would like to put people’s minds at rest and report on what we are doing to address issues and specifically highlight the reform agenda we are embarking on to strengthen medical supply procurement and distribution,” he said.
“Improving the health and welfare of communities is a priority of the government.”
The minister said this was evident by the government’s work to reform the health system and the establishment of the Provincial Health Authority Act 2007.
“The act was created to place healthcare decisions closer to communities, the construction and upgrade of hospitals, community healthcare centres and refurbishment of Area Medical Store, the introduction of free primary healthcare, and subsidised specialist health services to provide healthcare to the rural majority.
“The system to procure, supply and distribute medical supplies in PNG had weaknesses and challenges which were identified, addressed and managed within the available resources and capacity of the system.
“I have briefed Cabinet that the establishment of a consistent and sustainable drug supply for the Papua New Guinea health system is a priority and comes from a series of coordinated actions across the system with the assistance and support of multi-lateral and donor partners.”
These actions include health systems reforms, restructuring the Health Department to ensure necessary skills and staff numbers were in place and ensuring that health centres and aid posts were provided with 100 per cent medical kits.