The Department of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology will take the lead in ensuring that a stand-alone medical university in Papua New Guinea is established.
The National Executive Council endorsed the stand-alone PNG Medical and Health Sciences University on Monday, January 23.
The need for more doctors in the country prompted the PNG National Doctors Association (PNG NDA) to petition the government to establish the university.
The petition was to ask the government to convert the University of PNG’s School of Medical Health Science (SMHS) Taurama Campus into a stand-alone university.
PNG NDA president Dr. James Naipao said with the establishment of the university, the country will soon see an increase of graduate doctors in the medical field each year.
Dr Naipao said the academics and professional doctors must stand together in helping the government achieve this health changing milestone.
He added that the estimated cost to fully establish the university will be made known once the preliminary figure is confirmed.