Kerema Provincial Hospital in Gulf Province is facing critical state with most of its medical services shut down since COVID-19 landed in the country. Most of the services closed since the pandemic, and doctors and all the cardiac health workers at the Kerema Provincial Hospital who are on Gulf PHA pay-roll are currently working at the Port Moresby General Hospital. According to Gulf Provincial Deputy Director Public Health Mr Ben Bal, since the appointment of the new Acting CEO for the Kerema Provincial Hospital in the Gulf Province, the situation at the Hospital has worsened and services dropping dropped significantly. “No changes have been made and the situation has gone from bad to worse. The wards are currently closed, the laboratory services are closed, the X-Ray services are closed, and doctor’s consultation services are also closed, as well as the In-patient services," said Mr. Bal. He said, this is because the hospital does not have any “Health Plan” and a “Board Committee” and a few of the workers in the province go to work whenever they want to. The Kerema Provincial Referral Hospital has lost its stage from being in that level to a day-like-clinic now. The situation and issues faced at the hospital is very critical and no one is doing anything about it. “There is no control and command in place at the Kerema Provincial Hospital, said Bal.” In-patient treatment at the Kerema Provincial Hospital are all sent into the city to seek proper medical attention at the Port Moresby General Hospital. Mr Bal said, everyday they have ambulances running to Port Moresby due to no in-patient services because all the wards are closed and they are no longer admitting patients. “Those that need admissions are kept at the out-patient ward for a day or two and taken to Port Moresby, said Bal.” Mr Bal added that, the Gulf PHA is aware of the current issue but is not doing anything to address this issue. He said the hospital is totally run-down and has dropped in its standards from being a “Level 5 Hospital” to more of a “Day-Clinic” now. Meanwhile, patients seeking medical treatment only receive basic medical treatment at the out-patient ward and are sent home. Mr Bal said, this is because the hospital faces a lot of basic medical drug shortages all the time and there’s not enough workers to tend to all patients at once. “Most of them are sent home without proper medical consultation and treatment which is very unethical, said Mr Bal.”