Medical supplies were on the way to the key hospitals who have been reporting shortages in the country, Secretary of Health, Pascoe Kase announced this on Friday.
He said with very valuable assistance of the Government, major medical supply companies in Papua New Guinea and the Department’s business partners at the airlines have agreed to work together to provide the medical supply.
Kase noted that the Chief Secretary had provided considerable assistance through his personal strength and understanding of the issues involved.
He went on to say that the central agencies had worked to free up access to resources which allowed for faster payments to contractors.
Kase also noted that the staff of the Department of Health were working long hours to ensure supplies were ordered and deliveries coordinated.
He advised that urgent supplies were shipped to Mount Hagen by airfreight on Thursday with the further deliveries airfreighted on Friday.
The Hospital has been advised, with unpacking and distribution in Mount Hagen currently underway.
Additional shipments for Kundiawa Hospital, which had been providing support to assist Mt Hagen, were packed and due for shipment on flights over the weekend.
Kase added that shipments for Alotau Hospital in Milne Bay were already airfreighted on Friday afternoon.
Supplies will also be shipped by air to Wewak, Rabaul and to the Modilon Hospital in Madang on Friday.
It was reported that urgent supplies for Lae Stores were already on board the ship heading for Lae and was due to arrive on Thursday for transfer to the stores.
Kase said that this will provide stock to support ANGAU Memorial Hospital and allow transhipment as necessary to hospitals such as Modilon and Kundiawa as required.
Kase noted that these were the first of a number of urgent shipments which had been organised and which would continue over the next week until all hospitals had sufficient stocks.
He repeated his thanks to the Government for providing support for the urgent action and also to the Medical Supply Companies who could not have done more to assist and support the people of Papua New Guinea.