By ESWIN PLESIO
SECRETARY for Health Mr. Pascoe Kase has challenged nurses to take the lead in building a more connected and efficient health system, saying better communication and teamwork are essential to improving patient care across Papua New Guinea.
Speaking at the opening of the 3rd Port Moresby General Hospital Clinical Nursing Symposium, Mr. Kase said patients should experience one seamless health system regardless of whether they receive treatment at a rural aid post, a health centre or a major referral hospital.
He said while the country’s health system is organised into different levels of care, patients are concerned only with receiving timely and effective treatment.
“People do not see six different levels of healthcare. They see one health system,” he said.
Mr. Kase said poor communication between health facilities, delayed discharge summaries and incomplete referral information continue to affect patient outcomes and highlighted the need for stronger coordination across all levels of care.
He said nurses are uniquely positioned to bridge those gaps because they serve at every level of the health system, from the country’s most remote villages to its largest hospitals.
“Nurses are often the first people patients meet, and in many rural communities they are sometimes the only health professionals available,” he said.
Mr. Kase described nurses as the backbone of the health sector and encouraged them to use the symposium to develop practical solutions that would improve healthcare delivery nationwide.
He expressed hope that the discussions would benefit not only participants attending the symposium but also nurses working in isolated health facilities throughout the country.
“I hope whatever is discussed here reaches the nurse working in the most isolated village because every decision we make should improve healthcare for every Papua New Guinean,” he said.
Mr. Kase also stressed that strengthening the health system goes beyond constructing new facilities and purchasing medical equipment.
He said the country’s greatest investment must be in its health workforce, particularly nurses, whose knowledge, skills and commitment directly influence the quality of patient care.
“Buildings and equipment alone do not provide quality healthcare. People do,” he said.
He said the National Department of Health is continuing efforts to strengthen workforce planning, improve nursing education and raise professional standards to prepare nurses for the growing demands of modern healthcare.
Mr. Kase pointed to achievements such as Papua New Guinea’s successful polio response, the country’s kidney transplant programme and expanding cardiac services as proof that strong collaboration among health professionals can deliver significant improvements in patient care.
He encouraged nurses to continue working together across all levels of the health system to ensure quality healthcare reaches every Papua New Guinean, regardless of where they live.