Acute Nurse shortage in Papua New Guinea

PNG Health Minister, Michael Malabag. Getty Images

The Health Department has drawn up a Workforce Plan, aimed at boosting nursing manpower strength, currently at a critically low level.

Health Minister, Michael Malabag says, the Plan will include the recruitment of nurses locally and abroad.

In Port Moresby alone, the General Hospital is short by 300 nurses.

Mr Malabag visited the Port Moresby General Hospital and its maternity ward on Saturday, following reports mothers are giving birth on the floor. 

He confirmed the reports, but says it happens occasionally, as there are only 24 beds compared to 40 deliveries each day. 

Mr Malabag says they will increase the ward capacity, but they still need nurses. 

"The Port Moresby general hospital right now is short by 300 nurses but by our health national standards, they are short by 900 nurses.

"Currently at the ratio is 1 nurse to a 6 patients and ideal, the ratio should be 3 to 1," Minister Micheal Malabag said.

Health Secretary Pascoe Kase says public hospitals have been instructed to start recruiting nationals against vacant funded positions. 

Once those are filled, they'll start recruiting from the Philippines, India, Sri Lanka and other Commonwealth nations.

Minister Malabag says, the recruitment of foreigners is temporary, until P-N-G builds up its nursing capacity. 

Secretary Pascoe says, funding is available for salaries of foreign nurses and medical officers.

He says, a submission will go to Government, to fund airline tickets and mobilization of workers overseas to come into P-N-G.