The Area Medical Store in Lae, Morobe Province, went up in flames at around 2:45am this morning (1 September).

This particular Area Medical Store is responsible for medicine supply and distribution for almost 200 Health facilities in Morobe Province and four other catchment provinces, including Eastern Highlands, Madang, Manus, and the Northern Province.

In Lae City, there are seven urban clinics, each serving between 200 and 300 patients a day. They get their medical supplies from the Government Area Medical Store (AMS) in Lae. The AMS in Lae also supplies the Highlands and the rest of Momase.

This follows a successful visit by the Minister for Health, Dr. Lino Tom and the Health Secretary, Dr. Osborne Liko, on December 3, 2023.

Prior to this, there were discussions between the National Department of Health and the Department of Treasury to allow for the recruitment of additional casual staff for the Lae Area Medical Store (AMS), to speed up the rate at which medicines are distributed to health facilities. This was one of the short-term measures announced by Health Minister, Dr. Lino Tom, after visiting the Lae Area Medical store.

Meanwhile, more than 2000 Health facilities in Morobe, Eastern Highlands, Madang, Manus and Northern Province and Morobe’s Provincial Angau Hospital in Lae will be affected the most concerning the supply and distribution of medicine.

The cause of the fire is still unknown. Inside PNG will bring you more updates today.