Medical Faculty

The National Executive Council decision became subject to judicial review after leave was granted today in court.

On September 4, 2017, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill revealed during the 53rd annual medical symposium forum in Port Moresby the National Executive Council’s approval to separate it from UPNG.

The decision was made in February last year after a trip to Cuba to recruit 30 Cuban doctors to serve in 15 districts in the country.

NDA secretary Dr Sam Yockopua, who is also the Port Moresby General Hospital’s accident and emergency department chief, told Loop PNG that they will not allow UPNG’s School of Medicine & Health Sciences (SMHS) to shut down.

“The SMHS is the only ‘factory’ that produces doctors and dentists in the country. There is no other university.

“The output of doctors’ production is about 40 per year. PNG needs about 200-300 per year to meet the demand. So that number 40 is crucial for us the medical fraternity.”