PPP in PNG health sector is a must

PPP does not stand for People’s Progress Party. 
Rather, it was the main theme of last week’s medical symposium in PNG.
It stands for public private partnership. 
The idea is to deliver health services to the people of this country.  According to the 2009 annual health sector review for PNG, our national health indicators are one of the worst in the world. 
The indicator is very low in maternal mortality rate (MMR). 
However, we are improving on child health. 
The infant mortality rate has improved from 133 per 1,000 life births in 1996 to 63 per 1,000 life births by 2006. 
We have to congratulate the Government, health sector, NGOs and parents for doing a very significant work over the last 10 years. 
On the same note, there are some provinces like Manus and Milne Bay which are doing an excellent work on the delivery of health services.
But for other provinces, we are not doing well. 
The only rural health services that are functioning since Independence are those operated by the missions. 
The missions have been excellent partners to the Government in the delivery of health services. 
They deliver health services at an affordable fee to the rural majority.
The other success story is the partnership with international doctors on Operation Open Heart over the past years. 
This PPP is based on humanitarian grounds and has been a very successful story.
Going back to PPP in delivery of health services, how can we implement the idea? 
Who are the partners in this PPP concept? 
We have a primary, secondary and tertiary health services, so at which level will the PPP come to participate? 
In order to provide health care at each level, we need expertise, medical supplies, facilities and logistics. 
I like to express some of my views on how we can implement PPP in PNG:
1) The Government must give more support to the missions;
2) The Government must support and recall the other tertiary airline operators to provide services to the rural majority;
3) The Government must buy equipment to treat kidney and cancer patients;
4) Encourage private practice in urban areas through premium and insurance control policies;
5) To implement any reform or agenda at certain locations and in phases;
6) Proper strategies like improvising of local resources for fees; and
7) Partnership with the private sector in establishing facilities for heart and dialysis patients.

Wonder Ega Igini
Port Moresby