By ESWIN PLESIO
PAPUA New Guinea is reviewing its 53-year-old Public Health Act 1973 to strengthen disease prevention, improve health risk management and enhance responses to public health emergencies.
The review is the focus of a two-day national consultation on the existing Act and the draft Public Health Bill 2026, which begins today at the Hilton Hotel in Port Moresby.
Health Secretary Pascoe Kase said the existing legislation no longer reflected modern public health practices, changes in government administration and emerging health threats facing the country.
He said the COVID-19 pandemic exposed weaknesses in the law, forcing the Government to introduce separate emergency legislation to support its response.
Mr Kase said the proposed bill would strengthen disease surveillance, improve emergency preparedness and clarify the responsibilities of national, provincial and local-level governments in delivering public health services.
He said the reforms would enable health authorities to identify and manage risks early, rather than wait until diseases spread and threaten more people.
The draft bill also proposes establishing a national public health institute within the National Department of Health to strengthen disease monitoring, emergency management and coordination across sectors.
Mr Kase said the proposed legislation would modernise border health measures to address risks associated with increasing international travel and trade.
He said the bill also sought to balance public health protection with the rights and freedoms of citizens.
Mr Kase urged participants, including provincial health authorities, government agencies, development partners and health professionals, to share their experiences and identify gaps that could affect the implementation of the proposed legislation.
He said their contributions would help ensure the bill was practical and suited to Papua New Guinea’s circumstances before it underwent legal and National Executive Council clearances and was presented to Parliament.
The consultation aims to help shape a modern public health framework to better protect communities across the country.