27 May 2013

New start for Goroka Hospital, says PNG's Doctors Association

8:15 am on 27 May 2013

The head of Papua New Guinea's Doctor's Association says health professionals in Goroka are back on the job and satisfied that their concerns about the state of the province's hospital and public health are being addressed.

Staff at Goroka Base Hospital had withdrawn services in protest at the failure of management to address ongoing staff shortages and lack of required materials.

A petition by Goroka health professionals demanding the removal of the board and management was presented to the Health Minister Michael Malabag.

Dr Kauva Pomat says Mr Malabag agreed the administration had to go, but said there was no need to change the board.

"They've suspended the hospital administration and they've put in a caretaker administration. The staff are happy, they've gone back to work, and there's generally an air of expecting new things and there's an air of jubilation within the staff."

Dr Kauva Pomat.