Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, November 22, 2023 – Prime Minister Hon. James Marape today addressed concerns raised in Parliament by Morobe Governor, Hon. Luther Wenge, regarding the necessity of establishing a comprehensive health database and inventory to enhance healthcare delivery in rural areas.
Prime Minister Marape emphasised that creating a health database and inventory is not a challenging task and placed the responsibility on provincial health authorities to initiate and manage these crucial systems.
“I want to advise all our provincial governors that the provincial health authorities are fully autonomous and have an obligation to collect all data of patients in our provinces,” stated Prime Minister Marape.
“It is the responsibility of every provincial administration to pose such critical questions to our provincial health authorities.”
Highlighting the autonomy granted to provincial health authorities by Parliament, Prime Minister Marape underscored the need for proactive measures in data collection, health services delivery, and administration within the provinces. He noted that the government has been empowering provincial health authorities since 2021 through increased allocations.
“I ask the provincial health authorities what they are doing in their respective provinces,” urged Prime Minister Marape.
“Data collection, health services delivery, and administration of the health sector in the provinces are the responsibility of the provincial health authorities.”
Prime Minister Marape pledged to engage the Health Department in addressing the issues surrounding databases and inventories. He reassured continued government support for the health sector while emphasising the crucial role of provincial health authorities in effective implementation.
“I will task Health Minister Hon. Dr. Lino Tom to present a report on the performances of all provincial health authorities to Parliament,” announced Prime Minister Marape.
“They (provincial health authorities) have money but spend it elsewhere.”
Reflecting on the challenges identified during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Prime Minister Marape acknowledged ongoing efforts to streamline the health sector, citing the initiatives led by former minister Jelta Wong and the current Health Minister, Dr. Lino Tom.
“While the provincial health authorities are autonomous, they must maintain their accountability to the health department,” said Prime Minister Marape.