Whopping K350mil and free health care

By SHIRLYN BELDEN  
THE government yesterday announced a K350 million intervention package for all hospitals – plus free medical services throughout the country.
Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and his cabinet paid a visit to the country’s major health facility – the Port Moresby General Hospital – and said the funds would “drastically improve health service delivery in our country”.
He said health and medical services throughout PNG were “free of charge” as of yesterday.
“As of today, our government will move decisively to rehabilitate all referral and provincial hospitals and step up efficient delivery of health care across the country,’’ O’Neill said.
“In this respect, I announce that provision of health and medical services at all hospitals throughout PNG becomes free to all citizens with effect as of today.
“All citizens will not be charged medical fees anymore.”
The funds would be used for the rehabilitation of hospital facilities, re-equipping, procurement of medical drugs and other medical supplies and for the efficient delivery of medical and health care services. 
O’Neill and his team visited the paediatric ward, surgical ward, children’s observation ward, emergency ward and labour ward.
“Our government has decided, after inspecting the conditions at the PMGH, that drastic proactive measures must be taken to lift the standard of our nation’s hospitals and health care delivery,’’ he said.
“As responsible and caring leaders of this country, we cannot continue to turn a blind eye to the appalling run-down conditions of our hospitals and, equally, disfunctional health care delivery, shortage of medicinal drugs and lack of surgical and medical equipment.
“We cannot sit by and watch our people die needlessly because they cannot afford to pay for medical cost. This state of affairs must stop.”
PMGH gets K50 million as the national referral hospital. Six other regional referral hospitals will get K25 million each. They are Angau Memorial Hospital in Lae, Nonga Base Hospital in East New Britain, Goroka Base Hospital in Eastern Highlands, Mt Hagen General Hospital in Western Highlands, Boram General Hospital in East Sepik and Modilon Hospital in Madang.
All other provincial hospitals, including those in the Hela and Jiwaka provinces, will each receive K10 million.