K25,000 medical equipment destroyed

More than K25,000 worth of medical equipment belonging to the Port Moresby General Hospital were destroyed by members of the PNG Defence Force yesterday evening.

Hospital CEO Dr Paki Molumi reported that three monitors in the Emergency Ward are now broken, leaving the hospital with an unnecessary and unbudgeted cost.

According to Dr Molumi, the soldiers, believed to be under the influence of liquor stormed the emergency ward with a colleague who had been involved in an accident. They allegedly terrorised doctors and nurses when their demands that their colleague be attended to, was not met immediately.

The PMGH CEO said duty staff revealed that they had been attending to other emergency cases when the injured man was brought in. One of the reasons for not responding quickly was because there was no bed to place him on.

Dr Molumi said while they allow the law to take its course, the hospital board will be consulted to impose a higher fee for emergency patients who are under the influence of alcohol.

Author: 
Press Release