By SEPKOLIN WALNE
The official handover-takeover ceremony for the newly appointed Secretary of the National Department of Health, Pascoe Kase, and the outgoing Acting Secretary Ken Wai was held today.
Outgoing Acting Secretary Ken Wai noted that serving as Acting Secretary for Health during one of Papua New Guinea’s most challenging and transformative periods has provided valuable insights and opportunities for growth within the health sector.
“As I handover leadership, I do so with confidence in the strength, commitment, and resilience of our health workforce and deep gratitude for your commitment and support.
“PNG’s health sector is going through some great reforms despite the immense period of challenges and severe operational pressure,” Mr Wai said.
He stated that we have worked together under tight fiscal conditions, recurrent emergencies, disease outbreaks, and massive amongst them all is the ever-growing population mounting pressure on all services.
“Yet, in the midst of these challenges, we have also achieved meaningful progress that will shape the sector for the next decade,” the outgoing Acting Secretary said.
Health Minister Elias Kapavore recognised the outgoing Acting Secretary for his work over the past eight months.
“Appreciate the service you’ve provided for the last couple of months, National Executive Council has made their decision, ” Minister Kapavore said.
Incoming NDoH Secretary Pascoe Kase said, ” As I return to the Health Department as Secretary, I draw on my accumulated experiences and understanding while also remaining open to opportunities and ideas in the new environment, before us in 2026 and beyond.
“The Health Department is an organization and a place, I know too well.
 “In the early days, it shaped me, and as my roles expanded in seniority, I began to have the privilege, as a leader, to shape it.
” I watched this organisation grow from the St. Theresa Clinic to the Aopi Building.
“As Secretary, I will provide the much-needed leadership to bring stability and normalcy back to the Health Department.
“The issues of trust, disharmony, accountability, and poor performance will be addressed immediately,” Mr Kase said.