Province needs 600 medical workers

 EAST Sepik needs 600 medical workers to work in the six districts and at the provincial hospital, Boram General Hospital chairman Allan Bird says.

He said Boram alone needed 100 medical professionals and they had the money to pay them.

“To be honest, we don’t know where we are going to find those people. Health workers are limited in the country,” he said.

The hospital is able to employ 16 doctors with the support of new chief executive officer Mark Mauludu.

Bird said the cost of living in Wewak was low and this attracted medical staff to the province.

He said food in the markets was affordable and there were beautiful beaches to visit and relax during weekends.

He said the board and management were working on the new hospital at the new location. An agreement has been reached with the Catholic Mission for the hospital’s new location.

The Japanese government has shown interest in the new hospital development.  

He said the hospital supported the implementation of the provincial health authority and the provincial administration was to drive the concept.

The hospital provides a full range of medical services as expected of a level-five hospital.

“The hospital has about 200 staff. The staff sealing that was recently approved was supposed to be 400,” he said.