Court tells PNG Health Department to reinstate former worker

​AN ex- employee of the PNG Health Department terminated for allegedly trying to smuggle anti-malarial drugs was reinstated by the National Court.
Justice Nicholas Miviri made the order in a judicial review of a decision by the then secretary for Health Department Pascoe Kase, who refused to comply with a decision by the Public Service Commission (PSC) that recommended for the employee to be reinstated and back paid accordingly.
Rex Pim Kima, until his dismissal, was employed by the department as a logistic officer or storeman at the Badili medical drug storage warehouse in Port Moresby.

On Feb 28, 2017, Kima was verbally suspended for seven months on allegations of trying to smuggle anti-malarial drugs.
On Aug 18, 2017, he was served his notice of charge to which he responded on Aug 28 that same year.
He waited for 33 days before receiving his dismissal notice on the Oct 12.
He filed a review of his dismissal with PSC.
The PSC on Sept 10, 2018, quashed Kase’s decision to terminate him and directed that Kima be reinstated.
Kase’s office failed to comply with PSC directions.
The affidavit by current secretary Dr Osborne Liko reiterates the allegation against Kima and tries to justify it.
The judge found that that there was no clear reasons provided by the secretary as to why the decision from the PSC had not been adhered to.
The court ordered that Kima be reinstated with all salaries and other emoluments due to be back-dated and paid.

The National / PNGHealthWatch

​Next : Health Worker Sells Medicine, Services After Health Centre Closed