Etep Rural Hospital

In a notice dated November 4^th, the hospital’s executive management team advised that their financial situation has not changed.

They have reached this stage in spite of the Lutheran Health Services’ plea to the government in September to give them their operational grant.

“Due to lack of funding and multiple COVID-19 infected staff, we are forced to shut down operations,” stated Etep’s management.

Local MP, Dr Kobby Bomareo, queried whether the Morobe Provincial Health Authority has a structure that includes rural health facilities.

The Etep Rural Hospital in Morobe’s Tewai-Siassi district recently announced that it was scaling down operations due to lack of funding.

Etep caters to over 19,000 people.

Dr Bomareo visited the rural health facility, where he said two main questions arise when a facility is on the brink of closure.