Prime Minister James Marape has voiced his frustration over baseless criticism directed at the Government, particularly regarding the disbursement of over K529 million to Provincial Health Authorities (PHAs) across Papua New Guinea. The Prime Minister stated that contrary to claims of inaction and lack of funding, his government’s track record in releasing allocated funds remains consistent and above expectations. Prime Minister Marape highlighted that out of the total budget allocation of K529,095,022 for PHAs in 2023, a substantial amount of K519,958,345 has been transferred to PHAs nationwide. He stressed that the Government has done its part to release the funds and is now calling upon PHAs to report on how these funds have been utilized to improve healthcare services in their respective provinces. “What I find insulting is that despite claims of inadequate funding, our record on delivering the funds allocated remains above par. The data speaks for itself. The funds have been transferred, and now we need to see tangible results,” Prime Minister Marape said. He called on Provincial Health Administrators to assess the status of health services provided under their jurisdictions and provide detailed reports on the use of the funds received. Furthermore, he urged PHAs to be transparent and accountable in their financial reporting to avoid future scrutiny. “Leaders and the public continue to blame me, Deputy Prime Minister Rosso, my party, and ministers like Treasury for perceived lack of progress. However, the reality is that we have been diligent in our part. What I now need to see is the work being done with the funds received. I will not hesitate to bring in forensic accountants if these PHAs fail to properly report on their expenditures,” Prime Minister Marape warned.