PM revamps Health Department’s procurement system

News that matter in Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape

PM revamps Health Department’s procurement system

PORT MORESBY: Prime Minister James Marape has ordered the Health Department to procure drugs and medicines directly from World Health Organisation (WHO)-sanctioned manufacturers.

“Do away with the current procurement system introduced by the previous (Peter) O’Neill Government,” he said.

“We have had enough of controversies over the Health Department’s procurement of drugs and medicine which have been riddled with allegations of corruption, including the Public Accounts Committee inquiries in 2014 and 2019,” he added.

The news break was published by The National:

Procure sanctioned drugs: PM

January 6, 2022The NationalMain Stories

PRIME Minister James Marape has ordered the Health Department to procure drugs and medicines directly from World Health Organisation (WHO)-sanctioned manufacturers.
“Do away with the current procurement system introduced by the previous (Peter) O’Neill Government,” he said on Tuesday.
But O’Neill said the procurement process was well in place before his government took office.
O’Neill said: “Marape was Finance minister responsible for the Tenders Board and its procurement processes. The changes he (Marape) brought forward to the National Executive Council for the National Procurement Commission was his (Marape) and now he wants to pass the buck,” he said.
On Tuesday, Marape met with Indian High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea Shri S Imbasekar.
Imbasekar told Marape that India was the cheapest supplier of generic drugs as recognised by WHO. He said India could supply drugs to PNG on a government-to-government basis at a fraction of the costs PNG was currently paying to pharmaceutical companies.
“My Government made a deliberate policy to do a holistic overhaul of the existing drug procurement system when we came into office in 2019,” Marape said.
“However, a three-year drug-procurement contract issued by the O’Neill regime was already in place and we have had to live through that. That contract has been the subject of much controversy and riddled with allegations of corruption, including the Public Accounts Committee inquiries in 2014 and 2019.
“This year, as we move out of the contract period, we will move into a new drug-procurement system.”
Marape said the lives of Papua New Guineans could no longer be at the mercy of an ineffective drug-procurement system.
“We want quality drugs to be readily available without middlemen,” he said.
“This means straight to the Health Department from a trusted source. I have directed the Health Department to immediately start procuring drugs from manufacturers like those in India. India is a renowned pharmaceutical nation that the world relies on.”

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Growing unemployment rate in Papua New Guinea

Image
News that matter in Papua New Guinea Growing unemployment rate in Papua New Guinea (Employment stagnant since 2014) PORT MORESBY: Employment in Papua New Guinea (PNG) has remained stagnant since 2014 with millions of unemployed looking for jobs. The formal job market currently can only accommodate between 400,000 and 500,000, Institute of National Affairs executive director Paul Barker says. “As more young people enter the job market this year after graduating from tertiary institutions and schools, the chances of securing formal employment is slim. “Employment had remained stagnant despite the increase in potential workers coming out of educations institutions,” he added. Read on for more details as published by The National : Hard to get jobs January 27, 2022 The National Main Stories By DALE LUMA MILLIONS of eligible workers around the country are looking for jobs in the formal sector, which currently can ...
Read more

Sugu Valley tribal war death toll rises to at least 30

Image
News that matters in Papua New Guinea Armed tribal warriors on the move in Sugu Valley. Sugu Valley tribal war death toll rises to at least 30 PORT MORESBY: At least six tribes have been fighting in Sugu Valley (Kagua-Erave, Southern Highlands) since Feb 10, 2019, without any signs of an end and peace. In fact, the death toll has risen to at least 30, up from 11 on May 23, 2019, and the opening of a new battlefront in Sumbura near Poroma with multiple deaths reported in 24 wards. Armed tribal warriors on the march into the forests and jungles. PNG Cyber Monitor had on a May 25, 2019, posting ( https://pngcybermonitor.blogspot.com/2019/05/real-life-rifles-bows-and-arrows-bloody.html Real life rifles, bows and arrows bloody fights in PNG ) highlighted the bloody battle waged by tribal warriors armed with rifles, bows and arrows and knives. PNG Cyber Monitor is again highlighting the plight of the villagers who have been living in fear as reported by The Nationa...
Read more

Sorcery shame for Papua New Guinea in X’mas

Image
News that matter in Papua New Guinea Sorcery tortures and violence are still being practised in Papua New Guinea in this 21st Century digital era. Sorcery shame for Papua New Guinea in X’mas PORT MORESBY: It was international shame for Papua New Guinea (PNG) this Christmas when sorcery reared its ugly head. Six women were stripped, bound to poles and burnt with hot knives as they screamed in pain, watched by an unsympathetic crowd. In a video that has gone viral in the internet, the women were accused of practising sorcery in Southern’s Enga. Police Comm David Manning described the sorcery torture as vile, inhumane, uncivilised, void of any human decency. “Papua New Guinea cannot progress without letting go of these horrific traditional beliefs. We have launched an urgent probe into the incident in Aiya’s Pawayamo village in Kagua-Erave.” The news break was published by The National : Horror torture of women Decem...
Read more