Provincial health authorities are now tasked to look after the welfare of all health facilities in their respective provinces.
Health Minister Sir Puka Temu said the decentralisation of financial powers back to the provincial health authority is to ensure rural health facilities are well catered for.
Currently there are only 11 provinces with a provincial health authority office.
The Minister believes this is the way to go and has instructed all CEO’s of these PHA offices to work closely with the governor and the district MPs.
Sir Puka said under the budget provisions, the health functional grants will go directly to the provincial health authorities.
The challenge however, is for the Health Department to help other provinces complete the establishment of their provincial health authority offices.
Sir Puka said the provincial health authority board and the CEO of provincial health authorities now have the responsibility to effectively communicate with the provincial governor and the team, the open MP and the District Development Authority, as everyone is responsible for health care in PNG.
(Health Minister Sir Puka Temu)