Dr Sam Yockopua

The petition calls for O’Neill to step down and subject himself to the rule of law, fully re-allocate funds for the health sector (30 percent) and K50 million earmarked for Church Health Services, and immediately create mechanisms to recommence the academic year of the UPNG School of Medicine and Health Sciences.

NDA secretary, Dr Sam Yockopua, told Loop PNG that the petition was submitted to the Prime Minister last Friday (July 15).

“It lapses on Thursday, August 4, 4.06pm,” he stated.

Speaking as a concerned citizen at the UPNG Medical Faculty’s forum yesterday evening (Sunday), Dr Sam Yockopua from the Pom Gen Emergency Department said: “I will not allow that to happen because when the academic year closes, that will mean that Papua New Guinea will be down with 40 resident medical officers.

“Papua New Guinea will be down with resident dentists, pharmacists and all other cadres of health workers.

“We are running specialist training at the medical school; specialist training for nurses, big scientific programs, etcetera,” Dr Yockopua stated.