More focus needed on primary health care

Papua New Guinea has lost focus on delivery of primary health care in recent years, says Minister for Health and HIV-AIDS Sir Dr Puka Temu.
He told the 8th Apec high-level meeting on health and economy yesterday that Papua New Guinea had a long experience of accepting the critical importance of primary health care. It had shaped its workforce to provide primary care through the extensive network of aid posts and community health centres.
“I am, however, concerned that we have lost some of this focus in recent years,” Sir Puka said.
“My objective as the Minister of Health and HIV-AIDS is to refresh this approach, and ensure we work to lift the level of primary health care and provide improved health security in the country as a result.”
Sir Puka said the single greatest change which would advance delivery of primary health care in this country was creation of enabling organisational arrangements.
“This is why I have set a target of completing the implement at ion of provincial health authorities in all provinces in the country,” he said.