Stop work at UPNG medical school

Academics at the University of Papua New Guinea School of Medicine and Health Sciences have voted to stop work today.

PNG National Doctors Association (PNG NDA) president, Dr. James Naipao, says this leaves the medical school in critical risk of closure.

The protest is due to the non-payment of backdated awards; the awards payment of over K5.6 million dates back to January 1, 2014.

Naipao confirms that they will make an appointment to see Chief Secretary Isaac Lupari this week, which will be the second meet this year.

He says they will give a seven working days’ notice to the Government to provide the payment.

NDA will only have to liaise at this level as the promise to make this backdated payment had come from the Government through the Chief Secretary's Office.

Naipao says if nothing is done to address the issue, NDA is planning to take the matter to court in February.

It is only proper that the Chief Secretary's Office is aware of this impending court case, if nothing is forthcoming, warns the president.

Author: 
Quintina Naime