Dr James Naipao

The 30 academics stopped work on Wednesday, January 24, and gave the government one week to respond to their grievances over non-payment of their awards, dating back to January 1, 2014.

PNG National Doctors Association (PNG NDA) president Dr. James Naipao confirmed that the lecturers received a positive response yesterday and classes at the medical school will resume today (January 31).

Naipao said the UPNG’s Vice Chancellor picked up the cheque yesterday.

NDA president Dr James Naipao confirmed that Chief Secretary Isaac Lupari and Department of Health Secretary Pascoe Kase will respond to NDA’s petition 2 and 3 on Wednesday.

NDA has petitioned the Government for the more than 30 percent budget cut in the health sector, and non-financing of the K50 million earmarked for Church Health Services.

The third petition is NDA's condemnation of the closure of School of Medicine & Health Sciences at Taurama Campus, University of PNG.

The second part of this is to backdate the academics amounting to close to K5 million.