Referrals to Papua New Guinea's only specialist cancer centre have been put on hold as the centre remains without a permanent radiation oncologist.
An oncologist registrar at the National Cancer Centre in Lae, David Kundi, said the only referrals currently being accepted were for chemotherapy patients.
The Post Courier reported that a radiation oncologist had not been found to replace Dr Deepak Raj Ghimire, who resigned last year, and radiation therapy cannot be offered.
A manager at the department of health, George Otto, said a replacement was being sought, but the case highlights the need for PNG to train its own cancer doctors.