University eyeing medical school

Education

By LUKE KAMA

The Council of the University of Goroka (UOG) approved a concept to establish a medical school in a meeting last Friday, Vice-Chancellor Professor Musawe Sinebare said.
Sinebare said the university council approved the medical school at the UOG because health indicators in the country showed that there was a need for medical doctors.
“For example, right now, doctors to patient’s ratio in the country is one doctor for 20,000 patients,” Sinebare said.
“That makes is difficult for patients to access doctors and the university must play its part to address issues affecting the country.”
Sinebare said the final decision will go through the government process but as far as the university is concerned, the council made a decision for the university to go forward to establish a medical school. “The council has tasked a working group including Dr John Tonor, the director for medical services at the Sir Joseph Nombri Memorial Kundiawa General Hospital and Dr Harry Poka, the chief executive of the Sir Joseph Nombri Memorial Kundiawa General Hospital, to be part of the working group to prepare proposals and information for the government process for the NEC (National Executive Council) submission,” Sinebare said.