Photo: PM Marape launching the Health Plan
By the year 2030, Papua New Guineans could anticipate decent healthcare services "within an hour's reach" across the country, according to Prime Minister Hon. According to James Marape.
As he summarized the National Health Plan 2021– 2030 before unveiling it in Port Moresby, the Prime Minister gave this command to the Department of Health, namely the Health Secretary and the heads of the Provincial Health Authorities (PHA).
PM Marape did not mince words when he warned the PHA chiefs that this was "not an intellectual plan" and that they needed to "connect the connections," internalize the strategy and start implementing it.
He said: “I summarise the plan into this – a quality health system and facilities must be within reach in an hour by walking, by boat, by vehicle, or by a plane for our people wherever they are in the country.
“Health is our people’s fundamental right; it is our moral responsibility to provide good health care to our people.”
In a similar spirit, the Prime Minister stated that by 2031, he does not want to see any more "medical tourists visiting Singapore, the Philippines, or elsewhere."
He continued: “PHAs heads, I come to you because you stand beneficiary in the devolution of functions that already is being transferred to you. As you sit in on your PHAs, the Health Secretary does not know who is living one hour away or two hours away from the aid post or the health centre. It is you.
“Health is our peoples’ fundamental right. That is why we have given you a greater allocation this year when Covid-19 exposed a total deficiency we have inherited in our health care system.
“A country with only 200 ICU beds is totally shocking for us. A nation of 8 million people having 200 ICU beds right across the country is not something that we can be proud of.”
While the Ministry of Health and National Planning and Monitoring worked on a more realistic, watertight, and comprehensive blueprint for PNG's hospitals, the Prime Minister told the PHAs to "keep away from the K15 million" allocation intended for provincial hospitals. These new programs are being developed with the help of a development partner for the country's 22 modern hospitals.
“So we must make strategic interventions synchronised with my view that all hospitals, health centres and community aid posts must be one hour within walking distance or by a mode of transport for our citizens for necessary reliable health care within their reach for any level of health needs,” the Prime Minister said.
PM Marape added that, even if he didn't return as president next year, the focus on health would continue throughout the years with similar investments in every budget until 2030.
The 7th National Health Plan since independence was launched exactly one week after the passage of the 2022 National Budget, which is expected to put Papua New Guinea on the road to debt recovery by 2027.
With a prediction of a K200 million economy by 2030, the Prime Minister has given the 7th National Health Plan his direct design control in order to contribute value to the overall economic aim because, as he put it, "a healthy population implies a healthy economy."
The National Budget for 2022 allocates K2.8 billion to health, accounting for 11% of total spending — the biggest allocation to PNG health since independence.
The investment of K50 million to the cancer unit at the Port Moresby General Hospital – another first in the health sector budget – is one of the notable areas worth emphasizing.
Aside from that, the Department of Personnel Management is now assisting the development of 5,000 new roles for extra health care employees. Later on, this would be included in the permanent construction.
PM Marape also called attention to sectors within Health that needed immediate attention beginning next year, such as medical research and raising the level of the PNG medical board to "world-class" status.
Reference: PM James Marape News Page (7 November 2021). “PM Marape launches10-year National Health Plan”.
