PNG must build specialist health care services: Doctor

THE Covid-19 pandemic has made it difficult for many people to access medical treatment overseas, hence, it is time Papua New Guinea invests more in building its specialist health care services, a doctor says.
Port Moresby General Hospital (PMGH) chief executive officer Dr Paki Molumi said this during the presentation of the first set of specialist medical equipment to the cardiac intensive care unit (ICU) of the hospital by the Kumul Petroleum Holdings Ltd (KPHL) on Friday.
He said the Covid-19 was here to stay, hence, the hospital was committed to building the capacity and expertise needed to provide all the health care people would need in-country.
The presentation follows the signing of a memorandum of agreement by KPHL with the Ministry of Health and PMGH last August, to support the establishment of the national heart centre (NHC) at the hospital with K50 million over five years.
KPHL managing director Wapu Sonk said there were three parts to the support which were the infrastructure, equipment and human resources which KPHL was committed to supporting.
“Most of the time our doctors know what is wrong and how to fix it, but they lack the equipment and hopefully these equipment will help bridge that gap,” he said.
“KPHL is concern about the welfare of people because if we are healthy, we can contribute meaningfully to nation building.”
Dr Molumi thanked KPHL for taking the lead in investing in the hospital’s heart programme.
He said through the partnership, infrastructures and capacity would be improved and PMGH would be able to provide quality services to the public.
Dr Molumi said infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and HIV continued to be the leading cause of hospital admissiond but there was a huge surge in the admission of patients with lifestyle diseases.