A combined inter-government department delegation will be sent to Western Highlands Province following the mass resignation of Mt Hagen Hospital doctors and nurses.
Health Department Secretary Pascoe Kase revealed today that, a few staff members have returned to their post and are attending to emergency cases only.
“A team will be mobilised to go to Western Highlands this weekend, from the agencies of government that will have a job to look at infrastructure defects, financial audits, DPM contract, and financial inspectors, from their findings we will have 14 days to respond.
“From me, the Chief Security Isaac Lupari and Department of Personnel Management Secretary John Kali there is no industrial sanctioning of the actions taken by the workers so administrative process will proceed to make sure that those absent from work will be dealt with,” Kase said today.
Mt Hagen is the biggest referral hospital in the populous Highlands Region and the Western Highlands Provincial Health Authority (WHPHA) in a statement said, the doctors and nurses’ action are contrary to recommendation by the Health Minister Michael Malabag.
The disgruntled health workers demanded the removal of the board and senior management of the WHPHA.