OPPOSITION Leader Joseph Lelang says there are just too many evidences of lack of performance by the health sector of Papua New Guinea.
Mr Lelang said those currently at the helm of the National Health Department, are evidently not capable in providing the required level of expertise to lead and provide the much needed leadership to drive the sector forward.
“I read with keen interest a report by the Pacific Guardian on the lack of leadership at the National Department of Health.
“And, I join the many health workers, patients and the Morobe Campaign, “No Gat Marasin” to raise the Opposition stand on these matters, as it is so critical to our country.
“Everyone has been calling out on the chronic drugs and medicines shortages, facing the country,” he said.
Mr Lelang said this situation has fallen on deaf years and has reached critical point, because the government, through the Health Department’s failures, to address the medicines shortages facing the country for some time.
He said many health workers are now not talking any more on the medicines shortages because of ramifications and backlashes from authorities.
“Why is the Government through the health minister, not taking any positive action in addressing the critical drugs and medicines shortages facing the country? Our people are dying from easily preventable causes, because there are no medicines,” Mr Lelang questioned.
Mr Lelang said it is now the practice that prescriptions are written out by health workers for sick people to buy their own medicines – as a responsible government, we must not, expect a sick villager to buy medicines which are very expensive.
“It is the responsibility of the Health Department, to buy medicine and stock them in medical stores around the country to be supplied to and administered by health workers to patients. Why isn’t this happening?
This is a key responsibility and a key performance indicator for those heading the department so why are they not buying the medicines? Is it because of lack of funding or lack of leadership drive at the Health Department? ,” Mr Lelang asked.
“I am now calling on the Prime Minister James Marape to do something and overhaul the entire department of health starting from the secretary down.”
