Dr Lino Tom

Health Minister, Dr Lino Tom, expressed concern that PNG’s population growth is exceeding the government’s ability to cater to its citizens.

The gap between health workers and the populace keeps widening, with one doctor catering to 20,000 people.

However, if we are to go by the United Nation’s population estimate of 15 to 17 million, the ratio would be 1 health worker to 30,000 people.

“That’s why when I became the Health Minister, with the assistance of the Prime Minister, we are trying to bridge this gap,” he stated.

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Justin Tkatchenko, stated that Health Minister, Dr Lino Tom, will be a part of the bilateral discussion when the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in PNG.

Tkatchenko stated that India is one of the biggest producers of medicine and chemicals in the world and PNG need to discuss on working directly with manufacturers for the benefit of supplying good quality medicine for the people.

The MP had initiated this project and made this visit as part of his campaign activity for the Wabag Open seat. 

They came running down from mountain tops, gardens and huts to greet him. The Kayamatok people of Maramuni were happy their local MP was visiting, as part of his campaign walk to nominate for another contest of the Wabag Open Seat.

The minister was speaking during the official opening of Tanam SDA Primary School’s new classroom in Morobe Province.

A new four-in-one double classroom, worth K300,000, was opened at the Tanam SDA Primary School on Thursday, May 20^th.

The Wampar LLG infrastructure was funded by the National Fisheries Authority under its corporate social responsibility pillar.

Fisheries Minister, Dr Lino Tom, said after receiving a request from the head master, they went to the Huon Gulf district and determined that there was, indeed, a need for a classroom.

Fisheries Minister, Dr Lino Tom, made this known during the signing of a memorandum of agreement in Lae.

The Morobe Provincial Government and National Fisheries Authority signed a memorandum of agreement on Friday, the 31^st of July, at the Lae International Hotel.

The MOA will facilitate income generation for Morobe Province. Fisheries Minister, Dr Tom, said this aligns with the national government’s policy as well as his key performance indicator, which is to ensure the average Papua New Guinean experiences tangible benefits.  

Member for Wabag, Dr Lino Tom, raised this issue today during the Parliament session.

Dr Tom said a lot of concern has been raised regarding the quality of work from foreign medical experts.

"It is a strict requirement elsewhere in the world for doctors to be accredited properly to be able to work in foreign countries."

He said currently the country has no medical board examination.

A board like that would have properly examined overseas trained medical professionals coming into the country, and conducted appropriate board accreditation examinations.

Dr Tom said his policies are simple and focus is on key development aspects.

Promoting SMEs, mainly in agriculture, is to cater for the number of constituents who are not able to continue formal education.

He revealed that the District Development Authority has made a policy focused on this aspect and that budgetary allocation will be made.

“Those people who can’t make it to schools and institutions, they should engage themselves in SME, especially agriculture, because I see agriculture as the fairest SME that is available to us today,” Dr Tom stated.

When presenting acquittals for Wabag District for 2015, 2016 and the first half of 2017, current MP Dr Tom said the failure to provide acquittals by his predecessor needed to be rectified, hence time was spent with his administration, sorting out the books.

However, Ganim said Dr Lino’s statement implied that his former administration had never presented any acquittal on the use of district funds between 2015 and 2017.

Dr Lino Tom said this yesterday when presenting acquittals for Wabag District for 2015, 2016 and the first half of 2017.

The acquittals were presented to the Department of Implementation and Rural Development (DIRD).

Dr Tom said the failure to provide acquittals by his predecessor needed to be rectified and spent time with his administration sorting out the books.

He said he wants to see a high level of openness as part of service delivery.

He said the decision to join PANGU was made after serious discussion among the former independent bloc members.

It was the rich history of the party as well as its leadership, with Sam Basil, at the helm which eventually won them over.

“With the good history it (PANGU) has, I believe my move to PANGU will be in the best interest of Wabag and for the country as a whole. Because I believe in a leadership that is transparent, and believe in a leadership that implements,” he said.