By Meriba Tulo – EMTV News, Port Moresby
The Government’s expenditure in Health has been queried, with the Opposition today (28 August, 2018) questioning whether the Government was committed to fulfilling its commitments under the 2018 National Budget.
In a series of questions, Shadow Treasurer, Ian Ling-Stuckey claimed that figures in the recently-tabled Mid-Year-Economic-Fiscal-Outlook (MYEFO) report demonstrated the lack of commitment by Government to key health programs.
During question time in Parliament, this afternoon, Shadow Treasurer, Ian Ling-Stuckey raised a series of questions relating to the Government’s health expenditure.
The Shadow Treasurer’s questions were based on the recently tabled Mid-Year Fiscal Outlook Report indicating no money spent on several health-line items including for district and rural health;
- Angau Hospital Cancer Ward;
- Wewak School of Nursing’ and
- the Church Health Partnership.
According to the Shadow Treasurer, the figures in the MYEFO were yet another demonstration of the Government’s lack of ability in sticking to the country’s budget.
In response, Treasurer Charles ABel was quick to defend the Government’s performance explaining that whilst it was well-known that the country had seen better days, the Government remained committed to fulfilling budget items.
Minister Abel also went on to highlight measures that had been taken to redistribute funding into key areas including health which he said remained a priority for Government.
