Workers need care

 ISSUES affecting the health sector workforce must be addressed if the government wants to deliver healthcare services effectively, Parliament heard yesterday.

Health and HIV/AIDS Minister Michael Malabag, presenting his quarterly report, said the Health Department was currently developing a comprehensive health plan which would be ready by the end of the year.

“Our training schools are not producing enough health workers to adequately serve the growing population,” he said.

“We have a major challenge and is already affecting service delivery therefore the government is committed and taking immediate steps to address the issues of staff shortages.”

Malabag said with the support of AusAID, seven midwives were recruited as training facilitators at nursing schools plus 400  scholarships. 

He added that Eastern Highlands, Western Highlands and Milne Bay were implementing this major reform initiative with Enga, West Sepik, West New Britain and Manus preparing to roll out the programme.

The minister said with the free primary health care and subsidised specialist health care, the government funding of K20 million to be disbursed to provinces and hospitals was still with the Finance Department awaiting release.

Malabag said work was progressing in other priority areas.