Papua New Guinea's secretary for health is calling for a more holistic approach to achieve a more healthy society.
Dr Clement Malau has told the Post Courier newspaper that focus on individual diseases by different aid organisations with their own agendas and funding can be disruptive to the overall health system.
He says the ten year national health plan for the country launched late last year provides a vision for the whole health system.
It covers seven pillars , including human resources, good governance, information, community and technology, budget, drugs and supplies.
Meanwhile Dr Malau says the idea of bringing in doctors from Cuba to boost the medical workforce will be discussed again next month at the Pacific Islands Health Conference.
Two years ago PNG health authorities considered bringing in Cuban doctors to bolster staff numbers, but possible communication problems and concern about training standards led to the notion being shelved.
