Rural aid posts and health centres in the West New Britain Province have been suffering from an acute shortage of medicine and medical supplies to aid posts and health centres for a while now.
Mrs. Veronica Tony, the Gasmata LLG women’s representative stated that the shortage of medicine had begun in 2022 and the WNB Provincial Health Authority still have not done anything about the issue.
Mrs. Tony told PNG HAUSBUNG the WNB PHA indicated that they have contractors that were supposed to be moving medicine to respective districts but have not done so as yet.
Tony added that the WNB PHA continues to blame the National Department for this delay of the medical supplies coming out to the district as well.
Mrs. Tony further stated that the WNB PHA have also blamed the National Department for their unreliable contractors which they have contracted to carry this task and Mrs. Tony mentioned that most aid posts and health centres have resorted to purchasing their own medicine supplies from chemists and pharmacists in Kimbe and Rabaul which is quite expensive.
She also added that health referrals from aid posts and health centres for sick patients has been quite expensive because of transport problems hindering them from coming to Kimbe or Bialla at this time.