Australia and Papua New Guinea have moved another step toward redeveloping the Lae ANGAU Memorial Hospital; yesterday a request for expressions of interest was issued, in preparing the Health Services and Facilities Master Plan for the project.
Over K300 million has been invested in the redevelopment of Angau, including the master plan and 50 percent of the capital cost of renovation works.
The ANGAU hospital redevelopment will be the largest health infrastructure project since PNG’s independence.
The two nations have agreed to co-fund the reconstruction of the hospital through the Australia-PNG Joint Understanding on Further Bilateral Cooperation on Health, Education, and Law and Order, signed in July 2013.
Australia announced it has already set aside $200 million for the ANGAU facelift. This will include funding the Master Plan and 50 percent of the capital cost of renovation works.
The redevelopment will be the largest health infrastructure project since PNG’s independence.
Australia’s High Commissioner to PNG, Deborah Stokes, said Australia is committed to working with PNG to advance the priorities agreed in the Joint Understanding.
Ms. Stokes said the master planning process will equip both governments with the information needed to redevelop the hospital facilities.
This redevelopment will be done in a manner which is adapted to the PNG population’s health needs, affordable and is able to be maintained.
Ambrose Kwaramb, Manager Health Facilities Standards of National Department of Health, said the master plan will have to encompass health services and health facilities design standards.
It will take 2 years to plan and design the new Angau hospital, while the major construction work will commence in 2016-17.
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