PMGH filled with low category patients

Monday, 8 June 2026, 11:48 pm

Abau MP, Sir Puka Temu in Parliament last week. (Image: National Parliament

Recent statistics indicate that Port Moresby General Hospital is filled up to sixty percent with category 3 patients.

These category of patients are in need of urgent treatment, but are generally non-life-threatening cases.

Abau MP Sir Puka Temu told Parliament, information shows, in terms of emergency- category 3 patients which are those that don't need specialist doctors.

He’s queried whether the Health Minister Elias Kapavore of such information and what has been the advice to address this;

The clog up, prompted the 6-mile polyclinic cllinic to open for 24-hours and attend to cases referred from the main referral hospital.

Sir Puka says following this, 60% of emergency cases which is usually surgical, dropped by 30%.

He added that about 90% of normal deliveries occupy bed spaces at PMGH, and these are those not requiring specialist care;

Sir Puka has recommended to the Government that the capital city needs level 4 hospitals in Moresby North East, Moresby South, and North West, a level 5 hospital in NCD, another in Central and Goilala.

The ever growing population in the city, sits at approximately wiith more than a million people , 17,000 babies born annually and about 60 births per day.