The people of Papua New Guinea (PNG) will soon have access to the much-needed cancer service at the Port Moresby General Hospital (PMGH) with Phase (III) of the project already underway. PMGH Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. Paki Molumi thanked the Marape-Rosso Government for the release of K50 million funding to complete Phase (III) of the Cancer Centre Project, which is now awaiting signing of contract by the Head of State. Dr. Molumi said cancer equipment that are yet to be procured are the TrueBeam Linear Accelerator (LINAC) for the second cancer bunker, Brachytherapy machine for the treatment of cervical cancer, planning Computerized Tomography (CT) and other support equipment. He stressed that the procurement of equipment must commence in 2023 to meet project schedule and the K38 million funding in 2023 for cancer equipment is expected to be released by the Department of Treasury soon. “Funding proposal for a cancer laboratory to provide histopathology, immunohistochemistry and molecular diagnosis services and a cancer registry centre, is requested for in the 2024 budget,” he said. “A nuclear medicine department with Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan will be established in 2025. These services will provide a holistic approach to cancer care in Papua New Guinea, moving away from the past and current fragmented cancer care.” Dr. Molumi also stated that, “With the human resource trained, construction completed, and equipment installed, PNG will have a modern cancer facility by 2025 when the country reaches 50 years of political independence.” [caption id="attachment_44240" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] Picture Caption 3: (From left) Consulting radiation oncologist Dr. Priya Baskaran Shanmuga pictured with medical physicists Luwis Gabriel and Glen Sindik this week in New Zealand.[/caption] As part of its capacity building, PMGH has sent a contingent from the Oncology unit made up of medical physicists and radiation therapists (RTTs) to New Zealand to undergo training in advanced procedures and technologies applied in cancer treatment. Prior to that, 4 oncology nurses comprising of Nurse Unit Manager (NUM) Sr. Eawetau Delosi, Sr. Standa Nobert, Sr. Esther Pakau and Sr. Hassel Agudiosi went for an attachment with the University of Canberra in Australia for a month to undertake a Crisis Exposer training after having completed their Radiation Oncology program online. Dr. Molumi also expressed thanks to the Department of Personnel Management for approving cancer positions which these trained personnel will be attached to when the Cancer Centre is completed and in operation. Staff who went for training in New Zealand at the end of July include medical physicists Glen Sindik and Luwis Gabriel and radiation therapists (RTTs) Firman Dunstan, Richie Pumi and Tonny Sula. Consulting radiation oncologist Dr. Priya Baskaran Shanmuga said: “Our setup is going to be Halcyon Linear Accelerator (LINAC), TrueBeam LINAC and High-Dose Rate (HDR) Brachytherapy unit with a Computerized Tomography (CT) simulator and capacity building.