Health Issues

Despite higher spending on health, many of PNG’s health outcomes fare worse than countries with similar income levels.

This is according to World Bank’s biannual series titled Papua New Guinea’s Economic Update- Putting the spotlight on health.

Improving the efficiency of spending will be an important priority given the current fiscal challenges and the poor performance of current spending.

Decentralization of the health system has led to complex and fragmented accountabilities for allocating and using funds.

About 400 men, detained without charge by Australia since 2013, are refusing to move to other facilities on the island despite power, water, food and medication being cut when the centre closed at the end of October.

The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre's Natasha Blucher entered the detention centre last week with three colleagues.

Ms Blucher said men with chronic health conditions, skin infections and mental illnesses are running out of medication.