Cuba doctors

PNG NDA president Dr James Naipo said, the doctor’s association which has been vocal for the last three years have been fighting for the UPNG Facility of Medicine to become a standalone university and this is part of the agreement signed by both governments.   

He added that in many rural areas there are no doctors and the decision is a move in the right direction.

Under the agreement the stand alone university will access direct funding from the Treasury Department which will result in more intakes and more doctors graduating.

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill made the announcement today in a press conference in Port Moresby after returning from the APEC Summit in Peru.

He clarified that the Cuban doctors will be based in rural districts in Papua New Guinea and serve the people like any other local doctors.

He further added that the Cuban doctors will be paid just like the local doctors

O’Neill said Papua New Guinea is in a position to learn from this experience and expertise, and to apply this to our core national policies of healthcare and education.