Review shows need to strengthen health system

PAPUA New Guinea needs a stronger health system, a review has shown.
The Health System in Transition (HiT) Review is an independent evaluation of the entire national health system that can be used to provide advice to policymakers about how the PNG health system can be improved for the future.
Minister for Health Sir Puka Temu said The HiT provides essential knowlege for the development partners on where they could support the Government to strengthen the health system.
He said it was not only for partners to align themselves to PNG system but very informative for leaders in the country as well – political to technical leadership.
“Geographical setting of communities, roads and communication were some of the challenges that make it harder for us to manage the system and this report further highlights these challenges,” Sir Puka said.
“It is better to display the challenges properly so that we can then respond effectively to each of the challenges that we made aware of.
He said addressing the lack of access to health facilities and the chronic shortages of healthcare workers, particularly in rural and remote areas, and the continued implementation of the Provincial Health Authority reform were his priority areas.
He added the Provincial Health Authority would bring district and provincial health systems under one umbrella and allow them to improve planning and fund primary healthcare and address the inequities.