The Government will continue to fund Provincial Health Authorities across the country to maintain free Primary Health Care and Subsidized Specialist Services. It also intends to improve health systems’ in the districts and provinces.
Treasurer, Ian Ling-Stuckey when delivering the 2022 National Budget last Thursday, also highlighted that the Government will continue to support public health including environmental health, good Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WaSH) practices and the promotion of nutrition initiatives and the Healthy Island Concept or Smart Community Concept.
He said health is a key determinant of economic growth and is essential to the country’s development agenda.
Ling-Stuckey said, “Delivering an accessible, affordable, efficient, equitable and quality health services to address health issues is a chronic challenge for PNG.”
The sector comprises of Provincial Health Authorities (PHAs); Hospital Management Services (HMS); National AIDS Council Secretariat; with the PNG Institute of Medical Research (PNGIMR) and the National Department of Health (NDoH) as the lead agencies.
The sector pursues its objectives guided by the overarching government policies, the National Health Plan 2021-2030 and other relevant sector policies, strategies and plans.
The Minister said the sector has made significant progress over recent years in achieving targets and improving indicators.