23 May 2013

Calls for Goroka hospital board in PNG to be removed

4:50 am on 23 May 2013

The head of Papua New Guinea's Doctors Association, Kauve Pomat, says a petition will be presented to the government demanding the removal of the board and management of Goroka Base Hospital.

Staff are still providing critical care services at the Hospital, despite the withdrawal of some services as a protest at what nurses and doctors see as an inadequate response to their call in February for the board to confront staff shortages and a lack of critical material.

The Health Minister, Michael Malabag, the Governor of Eastern Highlands Julie Soso and the member for Goroka Open, Bire Kimisopa, are all due in Goroka for talks on the issue with the hospital's health professionals this morning.

Dr Pomat says the health professionals will present their petition to these leaders.

"Basically what they're saying is that the deteriorating health services provision by the hospital and also the public health have dropped since the current management and board were put in place."

Kauve Pomat.