The National Health Department’s Chief of Emergency Medicine, Dr Sam Yockopua, has expressed concerns over reports of funding delays resulting in St John having to stand down two of its three ambulances used to service Central Province.
Dr Yockopua, who is also the Secretary for the National Doctors Association, is highly supportive of improving coordinated prehospital care which is an extension of Emergency Department function and hospital-community interface.
He said it is disappointing that the Central Province Government still has not signed an agreement with St John Ambulance to properly fund the vital work in Central Province.
“We really need to grasp the current health situation in the country and the role emergency services play in saving lives,” said Dr Yockopua.
“Without dispute, St John Ambulance has always been the first responders to all emergencies. There is no other ambulance service in PNG that provides quality lifesaving emergency medical care and ambulance services without fee, to the most critical emergency patients to save lives and limbs.
“When things are done properly by well-trained people with appropriate gears from the start, complication such as death and disability can be prevented.”
Dr Yockopua explains that the medical help administered by a Paramedic or Emergency Medical Technician at the scene of an emergency is crucial in stabilising a patient before reaching emergency rooms at hospitals.
“The care given to patients at Port Moresby General Hospital is very good. As a doctor, I see far too many patients from Central Province that are unable to reach the general hospital in time to save their life. The current lack of investment in ambulances is not sustainable and the people of Central Province cannot be left to suffer.
“There is no provincial hospital in Central Province, therefore funds should be made available to quickly move the seriously ill and injured.
“Port Moresby General Hospital Emergency is so fortunate to be working alongside St John Ambulance. It’s comforting and reassuring for us to know that patients have been well looked after in a St John Ambulance, receiving all the initial and basic treatment before being handed over to us.”
Yockopua believes the challenges of health care in Central Province need to be looked at seriously with long term solutions.
“When that will happen, we are all optimistic. St John Ambulance Service is doing all it can, an outstanding job for that matter, assisting critical patients to Port Moresby General.
“If St John Ambulance can’t help these people in Central Province who call for their help, who else will? Are we all going to ignore them and just let them die?
“Central Province Administration must come good with funding St John ambulance operations considering the free service patients in the most critical conditions receive before being transported by the ambulance to the hospital.
“Research shows ambulances have significant improvements in maternal and infant mortality. In NCD St John has a decent amount of resources that make a tremendous impact in maternal survival – it is a shame the same level of ambulance services isn’t being invested in Central Province.
“When an ambulance was dedicated to treating and taking people bitten by snakebite from Central Province to Port Moresby General Hospital, death from snakebites reduced to almost zero during 2013 – 2016.
“St John Ambulance is a statutory incorporation and needs to serve the whole of Papua New Guinea. It’s promising to see it now expanding to Kokopo, East New Britain Province. It should also expand to other centres.
“I know St John ambulance has plans to do so and I believe with continuous and timely funding support from the Government, this important prehospital care service shall reach all our population.
“St John Ambulance is an extension of emergency medicine. We will not be able to improve maternal or infant survival unless we invest in coordinated ambulance services across our country – this is what everyone else is doing! I commend the Health Minister for throwing his support behind St John to lead the National Ambulance Service,” Yockopua said.
(St John Ambulance picture)