LAE, MOROBE PROVINCE – Joshua Kepas, a 28-year-old father of two residing in Lae, has raised alarms over critical medicine shortages at Angau Memorial Provincial Hospital. Mr. Kepas told InsidePNG that his family was forced to rush to a local shop last night to purchase Panadol for his elder sister, who is currently admitted at the facility after suffering severe stomach pains on Monday.
According to Mr. Kepas, the family only discovered the shortage when a senior health officer prescribed the basic painkiller as part of her treatment, noting that the hospital had no stock available. This forced the family to travel to the Food Mart shop in town to secure the medication themselves.
Beyond the lack of medicine, Mr. Kepas described a dire situation within the hospital’s walls. He reported that the Accident and Emergency area was heavily congested, with very sick patients and their guardians forced to sleep on hospital floors and benches in the triage and outpatient sections.
He characterized this level of overcrowding and the scarcity of essential drugs as a significant failure of government priorities.
The current crisis persists despite local efforts to bridge the gap. In December of last year, the Lae City Authority assisted the hospital with K200,000 worth of medical supplies to combat a nationwide shortage. This support is part of an ongoing initiative by Lae MP and Deputy Prime Minister John Rosso.
However, Mr. Kepas argued that while such donations provide brief relief, they are merely temporary fixes for a massive systemic problem. He warned that unless the government prioritizes healthcare funding and the Morobe Provincial Health Authority ensures effective management, more lives will be lost to diseases that are otherwise curable.
Angau Memorial Provincial Hospital serves as the primary referral center for Morobe’s ten districts and the Highlands region. It also houses the National Cancer Unit, which provides specialized care for patients from across Papua New Guinea.
The facility currently operates under the management of the Morobe Provincial Health Authority.