Minister supports PAC proposal

The National National

By REBECCA KUKU
FISHERIES Minister Dr Lino Tom has supported recommendations made by the Public Accounts Committee to upgrade the University of PNG’s Medical Faculty (Medfac) to a stand-alone university.
He said standards at the faculty had dropped over the years with many lecturers and professors leaving due to not being paid well.
“The health of a country depends on the number of health workers there are in a country,” Tom said.
“It’s time, we take this seriously. We have doctors with no experience now teaching at the medical faculty, and the standards have dropped.”
Tom called on fellow MPs to not play petty politics when lives were at risk.
“Build clinics based on research and evidence findings, and not just anywhere to please voters.
“Look at the findings, see how many people or how many villages will benefit if you build it at a certain location.
“Evidence-based practice is the way forward for us.”

2 comments

  • A stand-alone medical university would not be that attractive. Most individuals with international qualification would want to be associated with a bigger institution that brings some prestige and being part of UPNG sounds a lot better.
    The move, if allowed , would take us back to Paramed college.
    Please seek advice from your doctor friends working abroad how they can contribute to improving calibre of manpower at Medical Faculty.

  • The credibility and capacity/qualification of current teaching staff at MEDFAC to be questioned by a medical doctor turned politician is serious. Something has to be done to ascertain these allegations and if true, address these concerns. Lives of people depend on this issue!!

Comments are closed.