Recent articles in the local media on paracetamol shortage and health issues in the country shows that there are many things that have gone wrong in the health sector in the country.
National Doctors Association President Dr. James Naipao highlighted some of the issues that the country is facing the business of health and health delivery in the country.
“PNG needs another 15, 000 Cadre of health workers before the end of the current National Health Plan expires in 2030 to bring it to 25, 000 health workers.”
“When the country definitely knows that human resource is a shortage, why going about building new health facilities, unless, concurrent planning has gone with it.”
“New health facilities, shifting of health workers, and staff shortage will still exist in other existing health facilities.”
“Only Central Province, NCD and Jiwaka Province needs a new level 5 hospital, respectively.”
Dr. Naipao said that existing health facilities need maintenance and they need to fix the gaps that exist in these health facilities accordingly to the National Health Services Standard (NHSS) at which a health facility is built on whether it is from level 1 to 6.
When each facility in the country has not fulfilled the requirements in the NHSS, why building a new one to escalate the existing gaps to widen itself more when it is important and necessary for these old facilities with gaps be resourced and maintained.
He also said that the health sector needs another 15, 000 health workers into the health workforce by 2030 needs the support of the training institutions.
Another issue is the population growth is now consuming the existing resources.
The Paracetamol shortage will continue to happen because of population growth and urban pull factor is widening.
The Government of PNG needs to address this population growth and urban migration factor that needs wide ranging stakeholders’ collaboration to address this as soon as possible.
6. Communicable vs non-communicable diseases (NCD).
Dr. Naipao added that communicable and non-communicable diseases are escalating in NCD however, the country is addressing this in a ‘snail walk and run’.
“20 years from now, cancer will eat this country and heart, kidney, sugar, obesity, liver diseases will worsen.”
“More patients will receive stenting and dialysis.”
He reminded people to discipline his or her mind, emotion, ears, eyes, nose, hands and legs so to help control and reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases in the country and communicable diseases like sexually transmitted diseases that the country is facing at this time.
Dr. Naipao further added that for the National Health Services Standard which is a Bible necessary for level 1 to level 6 in the country to be assessed and performance assessed on what is stipulated in the NHSS, the Provincial Health Authority Act and District Development Authority Act, respective needs a revisit to bridge the gap and remove the barrier that exist now with the current two acts.
Otherwise, the theme, ‘health is everyone’s business will not be reached.
The ‘Panadol Shortage Cry’ has just opened the can and all the problems are now creeping and crawling out into the view.