Papua New Guinea medicine shortages linked to budget delays

In Papua New Guinea, medicine shortages have become a growing concern, with budget delays identified as the biggest contributor to this problem.

With funding delays — hospitals and health facilities are left struggling to deal with little to no drugs, interrupted treatment and often people having to pay out of pocket.

A recent study examined the link between delayed budget release, it’s execution and medicine availability in the Manus province.

Public policy lecturer at the University of Papua New Guinea Dr Nematullah Bizhan said that medicine delays are a matter of life and death.

“When it comes to the real impact it can be fatal if a patient needs antibiotics and does not have [availability], that can be fatal and [those] responsible are those who are managing the budget releasing it approving it,” he said. “They are accountable and it is really important to see the big picture that [this] is not [just] a technical inconvenience in Port Moresby, it’s really important for the life of Papua New Guinea’s living in remote villages.”