DALCY LULUA
MEMBER for Ungai Bena Kinoka Hotune Feo questions the Minister for Health Dr Lino Tom in regards to a gas plant that hasn’t been used and is stored away.
He said the Oxygen Plant that was installed in 2022 hasn’t been put to use though its the largest oxygen plant in Papua New Guinea(PNG).
He asked that why is the oxygen plant delayed from being commissioned ? and when will the plant be commissioned?
He also added that currently, the National Department of Health (NDoH) buys gases from British Oxygen Company (BOC) to supply the entire highlands region, in the initial proposal that they did, the purpose of the oxygen plant was not just for Eastern Highlands to use but for the entire Highlands region.The department is spending more money to buy BOC gases, they can save atleast up to K4.5m every year just from this plant.
“Two (2) and a half weeks ago I was there at the hospital, I visited my aunty and I witnessed first hand 5 deaths; 3 at the emergency and 2 at ward simply because there was no oxygen, deaths that could have been avoided or prevented but we didn’t prevent it.”
“We have a multimillion kina oxygen plant sitting there idle and yet people are dying. I do not know what the reason for the delay of commissioning of the plant and I don’t know when the plant can be commissioned, people are dying, are we going to wait for more lives to go?” the MP stressed.
In response to the questions asked, Minister for Health Dr Tom said technical assessment of the oxygen plant was completed by the NDoH Pharmaceutical Services Standards Branch (PSSB) and the Health Facilities Standard Branch (HFSB) on the fourth quarter of last year as assessment report has been presented and sent to EPHA and the supplier.
He said, “The NDoH PSSB is working on the therapeutic requirements for oxygen as a medicine.”
“Different oxygen plants provide different concernstration of oxygen and it is quite important for us to maintain standards, because of that process, the compliance process is taking a bit of time.
The plant can be operated once the NDoH PSSB gives their approval for operation after their due diligence and compliance checks,” he added.
He emphasised that from the report he got, works are in progress, the oxygen plant for Goroka is being worked on together with PHA oxygen plants for Port Moresby General Hospital (PMGH), for Mt Hagen General Hospital ( MHGH), Nonga General Hospital (NGH) and Angau General Hospital (AGH).
“Once the compliance test is completed, they will all be given approval to use,” he added.
Minister Tom said all other sites are also waiting for the NDoH PSSB to clear their therapeutic aspects including good manufacturing practices for oxygen as therapeutic product or medicine.
He further said we can’t use the lack of oxygen as reasons for death.
“Deaths they go through a proper audit process and we can’t make mention of because of the lack of oxygen that people have actually passed on.
That’s a serious allegation that needs to be verified by the authorities concerned,” he added.
