Health & Education
From The Report: Papua New Guinea 2015
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Papua New Guinea’s health care system is delineated in the National Health Plan 2011-20, which places a distinct emphasis on the provision of basic care for the country’s poor and rural population. A new free primary care programme, launched by the government in 2014, eliminates all user fees from medical centres and clinics, with the aim of making basic health care free for all Papua New Guineans. The shortfalls in PNG’s health sector are numerous and the reasons complex. Many of the challenges are linked to obstacles in other sectors, such as transport, infrastructure, manufacturing, education and security. It will be difficult for the health sector to improve without concurrent improvements in these areas. The international community is contributing and playing its part to help PNG improve its health care delivery, facilities and services, but there is room for more activity, especially from the private sector. As PNG sees its population increase, the demand for education at all levels is also rising. The country is starting to build the infrastructure and train the educators necessary to cater for this large group of students. However, the sector is still in its early days, and outside assistance and investment is very much welcome in terms of funding and managerial assistance.

This chapter contains an interview with Dr Amyna Sultan, CEO, Pacific International Hospital.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

PNG uses PPPs to improve health care delivery
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The health care landscape in Papua New Guinea is informed by its topography and culture: its highland mountains and deep valleys are home to a multitude of indigenous peoples maintaining traditional ways of life while coping with health issues symptomatic of a developing country. Meanwhile, on the coast and in cities such as Port Moresby, rising incomes are increasingly leading to the kinds of non-communicable health issues more often seen in developed countries. The government is thus faced with…

Interview

Dr Amyna Sultan, CEO, Pacific International Hospital: Interview
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Interview:Dr Amyna Sultan What benefits can private services bring to the health sector in Papua New Guinea? DR AMYNA SULTAN: It is important that the benefits derived from private-sector involvement stay within the country, in the form of both physical assets and skills transfer. To this end, public-private partnerships where the state builds the infrastructure while the private sector contributes capital and human resources represent a sustainable model for the future of the industry, as…

Overview

Demand for higher education rises in PNG
OBG
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As Papua New Guinea’s population increases, the demand for education at all levels is also rising. The country is starting to build the infrastructure and train the educators necessary to cater for this large group of students. Even so, outside assistance is welcome in terms of funding and managerial assistance. Human development through education is one of the country’s foundational principals. In 1986 a Philosophy of Education was amended to PNG’s national constitution. The philosophy recognised…