Morobe Provincial Health Authority (PHA) Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Kipas Binga, has highlighted the significant operational challenges the PHA is facing in maintaining its healthcare facilities, particularly at Angau Hospital in Lae city, which became part of the PHA in 2019. Dr. Binga explained that the cost of running essential services, such as the central energy unit, has become increasingly burdensome. "To operate the generator for an hour, we use about 100 to 200 litres of fuel if the PHA power goes off," he said when stressing that the high fuel consumption has led to substantial expenses for the hospital. In addition to the energy costs, Dr. Binga emphasized the difficulty in maintaining the hospital's new and sophisticated facilities. "We don't have skilled people within the organization to service these facilities," he said. As a result, the PHA has had to outsource maintenance work to external service providers, further adding to the financial strain. The PHA is also dealing with a significant workforce shortage. Dr. Binga revealed that out of 1, 887 positions within the organization, 752 remain vacant. However, efforts are underway to address this issue, with plans to recruit 400 new staff members, 375 of whom will be brought on board shortly. "We are mindful of the facilities and will be conducting a restructure with the Department of Personnel Management (DPM) to get the necessary human resources to run Angau Hospital properly," he added. Dr. Binga stressed the importance of collaboration with district authorities and District Development Authorities (DDAs) as part of the PHA rollout concept. "It's a government directive, and we need the DDAs (District Development Authorities) to be on board with us. All agencies must collaborate to ensure that health services are effectively delivered at the district level," he said. Dr. Binga expressed his commitment to improving healthcare in Morobe Province, stating, "We need to change the indicators of our people. Our people deserve better."