PORT Moresby General Hospital (PMGH) in a statement today has acknowledged the comments made by Professor Dr. Glen Mola on social media about the stresses on the Maternity Ward and his concerns about the provision of appropriate support for birth mothers.
The overload situation he describes is common to a number of wards at the hospital, including the emergency department, labour ward, and outpatient clinics radiology and pathology services
PMGH is dealing with the challenge of providing primary and secondary health care for a rapidly growing population not just in NCD but in surrounding Gulf and Central Province.
Delays in establishment of Level 5 and Level 4 hospital facilities and staffing is compounding this challenge.
PMGH is at the same time transitioning to become the Level 6 National Tertiary Referral, Research, and Teaching Hospital, consistent with government policy and has been making good strides on specialist services in cardiac, cancer, kidney and eye.
A decision was taken (in consultation with PMGH’s Board, National Capital District Provincial Health Authority (NCD PHA), National Department of Health (NDoH) and the Ministry of Health) with regards to a JICA Grant Proposal for Maternal and Child Health to establish this facility at Gerehu Hospital, a Level 4 Hospital.
NCD PHA aims to develop the Gerehu Hospital as a center of excellence for maternal and child health, where PMGH has a MOU with NCD PHA to provide human resources and technical support for the facility.
Logically, Gerehu Hospital’s strategic location offers easy access to cover over 70 per cent of city residents and 100 per cent of rural patients travelling via the Hiritano and Magi highways.
Over 80 per cent of deliveries at PMGH are normal cases which can be handled at Gerehu allowing PMGH to concentrate on complicated deliveries and tertiary care services.
While this longer-term plan is actioned, the concerns raised by Dr. Mola do need to be addressed urgently.
PMGH is working plans to install modular delivery rooms and maternity wards at Gerehu Hospital, Six Mile Clinic and other clinics identified by NCD PHA with technical and staffing support from PMGH.
Complicated cases will be transferred to PMGH.