The Government’s Free Health Care Policy is now legal, and will be implemented, starting next Monday.
Health Secretary Pascoe Kase announced this today in Port Moresby.
Mr Kase said after more than ten months of drafting this policy, getting it endorsed and approved by the National Executive Council, it is now ready to be implemented.
When announcing this good news, Mr Kase said, as of Monday February 24th, no fees will be charged on primary health services.
This means that people attending to all health facilities at Aid Posts and Health Centres for treatment, will not pay for all services provided.
However, people will still pay for specialized services provided at the provincial hospitals, but at a 50% reduction cost.
Outpatient, Medical drugs, delivery of babies and other primary services will be free of charge.
However, specialized services like dentistry and Cancer therapy will require half payments from the patients.
Mr Kase said all State Owned Hospitals, Health Centers and Aid Posts including Church run Health Centres that will receive Government subsidies, must abide by this policy.
He said the Government has allocated K20 million for the program.
The same amount was allocated last year.
The health system is complex, but he encouraged all health workers to be punctual to serve the people.
The Free Health Care policy, came out of the Alotau Accord by the O’Neill – Dion Government, and was launched and declared by Health and HIV/AIDS Minister, Michael Malabag, on 6th December last year.
This Free Primary Health Care policy does not include Private Hospitals.
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