University of Papua New Guinea School of Medicine and Health Sciences

The academic doctors decided to stop work on Tuesday, 24 January, following a delay in their awards payment of over K5.6 million, dating back to January 1, 2014.

The stop work means that there is to be no teaching in the medical school and within the Port Moresby General Hospital grounds.

All clinical staff and the departments have been informed that any student that goes to the hospital will not be taught until a favourable answer comes from the Government.

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.