Why fund a private company for research?

THE recent proposal to the National Executive Council decision for K10.2 million to be paid to Niugini Biomed Ltd to conduct research and find a cure for Covid-19 has caused public debate.
While watching the live coverage of the press conference, it was quite absurd that these seven claimed to be the advisers.
I have been following the Covid-19 news since December 2019 and it is true that the Prime Minister James Marape and the national operations control centre for the Covid-19 were getting advice from scientists but it was from a group of scientists headed by the Central Public Health Laboratory and the Institute of Medical Research and not the University of PNG. It seems strange that some UPNG lecturers are now trying to get credit and justify their K10.2million contract.
As we saw in most press conferences held at the control centre, it was always with doctors from the Central Public Health Laboratory and the Institute of Medical Research and not UPNG lecturers.
While there is a good number of leaders, mostly from Government, calling for people to believe in fellow Papua New Guineans, the answer is yes, we do want to believe in Papua New Guineans.
But when you say believe than why are we not believing in fellow Papua New Guineans and established national institutions such as the Central Public Health Laboratory and the Institute of Medical Research?
They too can do it, if given the funding and the necessary resources.
Why fund a private company?
Despite them being Papua New Guineans, the fact remains that they are a private company!
If Marape is serious about funding researches, he should fund national institutions such as the Central Public Health Laboratory and the Institute of Medical Research or even UPNG.
After all, we want to take back PNG and make it the richest black Christian country in the world, so let’s fund our national institutions.

Sharon, Western