 PNG’s Bougainville Gains Emergency Care Lifeline with New Defibrillator from BMI The first working defibrillator in Bougainville has been donated to Buka General Hospital by Bougainville Minerals Investment (BMI), marking a breakthrough in emergency cardiac care for PNG’s autonomous region.
The defibrillator was hand-delivered from Brisbane by BMI Chairman Paul Ryan, who responded to urgent calls from hospital doctors regarding the lack of functioning life-saving equipment. Discussions between BMI and the hospital staff led to the decision. CEO Dr. Tommy Wotsia was grateful for the support, saying the machine would be vital for reviving patients suffering from cardiac arrest. “This is a life-saving tool, and we don’t have another one in working condition,” he said.  PNG Minister for Health Elias Kapavore has warned that Provincial Health Authorities (PHAs) failing to meet national standards may face serious consequences, including the suspension or replacement of their CEOs and board members. The warning follows an audit that revealed widespread underperformance and a lack of accountability among several PHAs across the country.
Speaking during a health conference in Port Moresby last week, Minister Kapavore expressed concern over poor healthcare delivery, low immunisation rates, mismanagement of funds, and inadequate reporting by PHAs. “Health is a basic human right, and the government is committed to ensuring all Papua New Guineans receive the care they deserve,” he stated.  Kompiam Medical Patrol Team Reaches Remote Malaumanda Community Around 60 patients in the isolated Malaumanda region, located on the border of Enga and East Sepik provinces, received much-needed medical attention during a recent outreach by the Kompiam Hospital patrol team, according to a community health worker.
Community health worker Terence Baiang reported that many residents were treated for ailments such as coughs, body aches, and skin conditions during the team’s three-day visit. He explained that locals are usually informed a week in advance so they can prepare, including clearing the jungle airstrip for the aircraft landing.  Betel Nut Linked to Increased Heart Risk Among Youths, Warns Cardiologist Papua New Guinea cardiologist Professor Isi Kevau has raised concerns that younger people are increasingly at risk of heart attacks and other health complications due to betel nut consumption. He said hospitals are now seeing more young, otherwise healthy individuals reporting chest pains – a common symptom of heart attacks.
During a recent health meeting with the World Health Organization, Professor Kevau highlighted that while communicable diseases like tuberculosis are on the decline, non-communicable diseases such as heart attacks and strokes have sharply increased since the 1990s. He noted that in Port Moresby alone, one in every ten deaths at hospitals is now attributed to heart-related complications, particularly among teenagers and young adults.  PNG Health Minister Warns Against Illegal Street Sale of Medical Drugs PNG Health Minister Elias Kapavore has raised serious concerns over the growing trend of medical drugs being sold illegally on the streets, warning that such practices put lives at risk and undermine the healthcare system.
Speaking out following the arrest of four individuals in Goroka for allegedly selling prescription medications, Kapavore stressed that drugs such as antibiotics and anti-malarials are procured by the Government for public hospitals and clinics — not for private street sales. “We’re seeing an alarming rise in the street sale of medical supplies,” Kapavore said. “These medicines are meant for patients in hospitals. The Government didn’t spend millions so people could sell them on the roadside.”  Enga’s Sopas Hospital Expands with State-of-the-Art Surgical Complex Enga’s Sopas District Hospital is undergoing a major transformation with the construction of a state-of-the-art surgical complex, aimed at improving healthcare delivery for thousands of patients across the province and surrounding areas. The new duplex facility is expected to significantly enhance the hospital’s surgical capabilities and service reach.
The new complex will feature a four-room operating theatre on the ground floor, while the upper level will accommodate consultation clinics, a doctors’ office, and a training and conference room. This development will replace the aging two-room theatre that has served the hospital for years under mounting pressure from increasing patient numbers.  Secretary for the Department of Personnel Management, Ms. Taies Sansan Secretary for the Department of Personnel Management, Ms. Taies Sansan, has raised alarm over the worsening shortage of health workers in Papua New Guinea, warning that the country’s health system is buckling under the pressure. Speaking at the University of Papua New Guinea’s School of Medicine and Health Sciences, she revealed that although there are 20,929 health workers nationwide, this number is inadequate when compared to the population’s growing healthcare needs.
Over 7,000 Pregnant Women Treated on Floor at PNG's PMGH in 2024, Says Leading Obstetrician4/21/2025
 Professor Glen Mola Port Moresby — A senior medical professional has raised alarm over ongoing overcrowding at the Port Moresby General Hospital (PMGH), revealing that more than 7,000 pregnant women were treated on the floor of the hospital’s maternity ward last year due to a chronic lack of space and resources.
Professor Glen Mola, head of obstetrics and gynaecology at the University of Papua New Guinea and PMGH, took to social media yesterday to highlight the dire conditions patients and staff continue to face. According to Mola, thousands of women received critical maternal care while lying on the floor — in admission areas, birthing rooms, and post-natal wards. “This situation is both humiliating and degrading for the patients and for the medical staff,” he wrote. “We’ve reported it to the hospital’s management repeatedly, but nothing has changed.”  Leaders in Papua New Guinea have celebrated the latest cohort of nursing graduates from Kundiawa College of Nursing, hailing them as "guardians of hope" for the nation's healthcare system. During the 5th graduation ceremony, Health Minister Elias Kapavore and Simbu Governor Noah Kool joined other dignitaries to commend the new professionals for their dedication and potential to transform healthcare delivery across the country.
In his keynote address, Health Minister Elias Kapavore urged the graduates to maintain professionalism and strive for excellence in their careers. He emphasized the importance of thinking beyond traditional roles and encouraged the nurses to innovate and elevate the standards of healthcare in PNG. “Nursing is a unique profession,” Kapavore remarked, highlighting the critical role nurses play in responding to emergencies and providing care around the clock, whether in hospitals, health facilities, or community settings.  A photo shared by PMGH features Dr. Jack Mulu, a paediatric surgeon, with the visiting team. Port Moresby General Hospital (PMGH) has welcomed a visiting medical team from SingHealth and KK Women's and Children's Hospital in Singapore to collaborate on paediatric surgery training and surgical partnerships. The team will work closely with PMGH’s paediatric and surgical unit from March 12 to 18.
According to PMGH, the visit aims to enhance surgical capacity through specialized training, focusing on minimally invasive procedures. The collaboration is expected to improve patient outcomes and strengthen long-term professional ties between the institutions. PMGH expressed appreciation for the expertise of the visiting specialists, emphasizing the benefits of knowledge-sharing and skill development for local medical teams. |
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