St John Ambulance Services to be closed

The St John ambulance Services in Papua New Guinea will be closed as off tomorrow the 3rd of September due to shortage of funds.

This comes about after the PNG National Department of Health failed to allocate the 2015 budget for the St John Ambulance Services and also refused to sign the MOA, which has prolonged to this date.

The budget was due at the end of last year, but was never paid and the organisation has been operating on remaining funds until the last staff salaries due today.

A very disappointing Commissioner, Ms Courtney Honey said the St John Ambulance Services have been operating in PNG for over 58 years and they’ve been there for people during their worst times.

“It is really sad that the government has turned a blind eye on an organisation that has been providing health services in PNG for many years.”

“For the public, if you have a medical emergency tomorrow, St John will not be in a position to send an ambulance” said Commissioner Honey.

Commissioner Honey is now calling on the Health Minister Michael Malabag and the Health Secretary Pasco Kase for a prompt solution, so they can resume operation as early as possible.