The year 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of Papua New Guinea's independence, yet significant gaps remain in the provision of healthcare services across the nation, Prime Minister Hon. James Marape said.
Amid the challenges and progress in the country's health sector, Marape emphasised the importance of strengthening primary healthcare as the foundation for a healthier population.
Although a significant portion of the health budget goes to secondary and tertiary care, primary healthcare should be prioritized to reduce the burden on hospitals and improve long-term health outcomes, the Prime Minister said.
“And health is a key sector. I was reminded sometimes back by World Bank that a healthy population and an educated population must also be seen from an economic context. You have a healthy population and an educated population, the economy is assisted in a substantial manner,” Marape said during the 24th National Health Conference from November 11-13 at APEC Haus in Port Moresby.
The three-day conference focused on improving corporate and clinical governance as essential drivers for achieving Universal Health Coverage in PNG.
During the conference, the Health Medium Term Development Plan II (MTDP II) was launched centered on four documents:
- NHA (Amendments) Act 2023
- PHA (Amendments) 2023
- PHA CEO Regulations 2020
- PHA Board &Governance Manual
Marape reflected on the country’s healthcare journey since independence, noting a great need for more innovation, resources, and improved governance to address funding shortages, infrastructure gaps, and workforce shortages, particularly in rural areas.
He highlighted the decentralization of health services through Provincial Health Authorities (PHAs) as a key reform to bring healthcare closer to the people, though he expressed frustration that some PHAs have not met reporting standards.
“We must ensure that health services reach every Papua New Guinean, no matter where they live,” he said in reaffirming his government’s commitment to better health.
Marape renewed his support for the National Health Plan 2021–2030, a roadmap aimed at reforming the healthcare system.
The plan focuses on primary healthcare and aims to improve the distribution of the health workforce, enhance medical supply chains, and integrate healthcare with broader social determinants like education and infrastructure. By 2030, Papua New Guinea must have a fully functioning health system, the PM said.
Technical Challenges Hindering Delivery of Health Services
The Secretary for Health, Dr. Osborn Liko, addressed the technical challenges the health sector faces. He acknowledged the significant strides made in health outcomes, including reduced maternal mortality rates and improved child health indicators.
However, he said the country continues to grapple with substantial issues, such as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which exposed weaknesses in emergency response capabilities.
Additionally, the secretary noted the growing burden of non-communicable diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer, which remain a pressing concern.
Dr. Liko said the country's healthcare system is underfunded, with government expenditure on health at just 2.1% of GDP—one of the lowest in the Asia-Pacific region.
These financial limitations are most felt in rural areas, where the majority of the population resides, but where only a small proportion of the healthcare workforce is based, he added.
“The lack of efficient funding is most clearly felt in the operational expansion of frontline services, the procurement of essential medicines, and the maintenance of health insurance. Many of our health services do not meet the national standard, and many are poor and needy, understaffed, and lack an essential supply, yet with the health resources we need, what is available must be available.”
"The shortage of health workers is one of our most pressing issues. With just 1.03 health workers per 1,000 people, we have one of the lowest ratios globally. This has a direct impact on the quality of care, particularly in rural and remote areas.”
To address these challenges, Dr Liko outlined the government's commitment to expanding the healthcare workforce through newly established medical universities and revised curricula, and to strengthen the medical supply chain to ensure that essential medicines and equipment reach all regions, especially those in remote areas.
The health sector and government’s focus aims to ensure the country has the right number of free health workers, particularly in rural areas where the majority of the population lives.
Currently, 87% of PNG’s population lives in the rural areas, but only 10 to 14% of the health workforce live in these areas to provide health services.
“Further investments need to build a more efficient system that ensures essential medicines and supplies reach the right facilities on time,” Dr. Liko said.
“The underfunding of medicines remains a pressing issue, and we pack up and expand it, and essential medicines to be achieved in just 2-3 kilometres, as compared to US$5.8. Our stock interest was furthest at US$648 per capita, on island at US$600 per capita. This is a gap that we must close.”
“Despite these challenges, we are taking proactive steps, with clear strategies in place to improve the health of our people.”
The secretary noted the Medium Development Plan 4 (MDP4) reallocates the resources towards primary healthcare, which will allow the Ministry for Health and Government to address the root causes of ill health while reducing the lack of facilities, limited access to clean water, and heavy capacity, and improving the social dynamics of the country.
“This includes rehabilitation of all professional hospitals, as well as specialised reformatting hospitals, and establishing new specialised clinics of cancer and HIV, to level 5 and level 6. At this point, we are working to establish an additional reference laboratory, which will improve our capacity to diagnose and respond to these more quickly and effectively,” Dr Liko added.
Moreover, the Minister for Health, Hon. Elaias Kapavore, called for greater regional cooperation to tackle shared health challenges, saying: “We have the power to make a difference. It requires all of us to work together.”
Participants of the workshop included government agencies and their respective Ministers, Department heads, Provincial Governors, Provincial Administration, 21 PHAs CEOs, PHA Board Chairs, Hospital CEOs, Faith Based Organizations,, Civil Societies, Health Training Institutions, Development Partners, and NDoH senior management team, and Health Sector Agencies staff, totaling to 500 plus attendees.
