PORT Moresby General Hospital (PMGH) has reached a major milestone in Papua New Guinea’s fight against cancer with the arrival of the country’s first Halcyon Linear Accelerator, a machine that will provide advanced radiation treatment for cancer patients.
According to Chief Executive Officer Dr. Paki Molumi the machine has been delivered with its required accessories, is now ready for installation and commissioning as PMGH prepares to commence cancer treatment services later this year.
Dr. Molumi described the arrival marks significant progress in the development of the Comprehensive Cancer Centre at PMGH, a flagship initiative of the Government of Papua New Guinea launched in 2019 to address the country’s growing cancer burden.
“The centre is regarded as the most technically sophisticated health infrastructure project undertaken in Papua New Guinea and represents a major investment in the nation’s healthcare system as the country celebrates its 50th Golden Jubilee.
“The project is being funded through the Government’s Public Investment Program, with an additional K10 million contribution from Kumul Petroleum Holdings, demonstrating a strong national commitment to improving access to specialised cancer care,”
“The Comprehensive Cancer Centre is estimated to cost K300 million and has been developed in phases to align with annual government funding. To date, K172 million has been released, bringing the facility significantly closer to completion.”
Construction Progress
Phase I and II of the projects have been completed, while Phase III is now 95 per cent complete.
Construction of Phase IV, involving the upper floors, has commenced and is currently about 15 per cent complete. Further development is expected to continue between 2027 and 2030 as cancer services expand.
Key cancer treatment equipment has been procured, while core human resources have been recruited and trained in preparation for the commencement of services.
Building Capacity for Cancer Care
PMGH has assembled a multidisciplinary workforce to support the new cancer services.
The workforce includes two clinical oncologists recruited from India, two radiation oncologists contracted through the
Department of Personnel Management, one national medical oncologist, two medical physicists from Sri Lanka and three national medical physicists.
There are also two radiation therapists recruited from Sri Lanka, three national radiation therapists and 15 oncology nurses.
An expert commissioning team from Australia has also been contracted for five months to support the commissioning process.
Training is scheduled to commence in August 2026, with continuous professional development programs planned to ensure staff maintain international standards of oncology practice.
International Standards and Patient Safety
Dr. Molumi said the centre is being developed with strong emphasis on clinical standards, patient safety, equipment reliability and regulatory compliance.
“The project incorporates international oncology protocols and accreditation benchmarks, alongside strict infection prevention, radiation safety and equipment calibration requirements.
“Biomedical engineering and information and communications technology teams will support the reliability and uptime of critical equipment, including radiotherapy machines, PET scanners and artificial intelligence systems,”
“Regulatory preparations include compliance with International Atomic Energy Agency requirements through NISIT, approval of standard operating procedures by the
National Department of Health, and compliance with national health standards,” Dr. Molumi.
Dr. Molumi is urging the Government to release the K56 million appropriated under the 2026 Public Investment Program to enable the hospital to finalise construction of the upper floors, procure essential goods and engage the specialist commissioning team.
“The arrival of the Halcyon Linear Accelerator nevertheless represents a significant turning point for cancer care in Papua New Guinea,”
“Once fully operational, the Comprehensive Cancer Centre is expected to provide a one-stop cancer care facility, bringing chemotherapy, radiotherapy, nuclear medicine and other specialised services together under one centre.
“By 2030, PMGH aims for the Comprehensive Cancer Centre to provide world-class cancer care and improve access to life-saving treatment for patients from across Papua New Guinea,” Dr. Molumi said.