Papua New Guinea (PNG) Government yesterday opened a catheterisation laboratory (Cath lab) at its specialist referral Port Moresby General Hospital to treat heart patients and others diagnosed with lifestyle diseases.
Commending the hospital board and management, and its investment partners, Prime Minister, James Marape said the cath lab will significantly enhance the hospital’s capacity to address the growing number of patients.
PM Marape praised Kumul Petroleum Holdings Ltd (KPHL) for funding a cutting-edge lab which was established at a cost of K40 million.
However, Prime Minister emphasized that while specialist care services are essential, prevention remains the most effective strategy against lifestyle diseases.
These conditions, including heart disease, have become some of the most frequent causes of hospital admissions at the national referral and teaching hospital, PM Marape stated.
He made these remarks during the commissioning of the new catherisation laboratory, which features a Cannon Cardiac Catheterisation machine, at PMGH today.
PM Marape added that: “The machine represents a substantial investment in the country’s healthcare system.”
Dr. Wesong Boko, head of Invasive Cardiology at PMGH, explained that the machine is among the latest global technologies, capable of diagnosing and treating diseases of the heart, cancers and strokes, among others.
A catheterisation laboratory is a specialized medical facility equipped with advanced imaging technology, allowing doctors to visualize and treat problems inside blood vessels and organs, especially the heart.
Through minimally invasive procedures, doctors can use this technology to diagnose and treat blockages or abnormalities in the heart and other parts of the circulatory system, significantly reducing the need for open surgery.
Prime Minister Marape highlighted that his government has long prioritized the development of specialist healthcare services within Papua New Guinea, particularly in areas such as heart and kidney care.
He expressed his gratitude to KPHL for its role in making these government priorities a reality.
Prime Minister Marape applauded KPHL for its swift action as compared to the often-slow public service. At the government’s direction in 2019, KPHL, led by Managing Director Mr. Wapu Sonk, allocated K50 million over five years to support the establishment of specialist healthcare services. Prime Minister Marape remarked that this investment is a vast improvement compared to past expenditures by previous governments.
So far, PMGH has spent K40 million, in partnership with KPHL, to establish specialist facilities for heart care, kidney dialysis, and cancer treatment. Additionally, KPHL has collaborated with Angau Hospital to set up radiotherapy treatment services, which were opened last month by Prime Minister Marape.
The Prime Minister emphasized that the K40 million investment in local healthcare is a tremendous achievement, especially given the significant costs Papua New Guineans incur when seeking specialist care abroad, often paying K100,000 to K200,000.
In contrast, the services provided at PMGH’s cath lab are available for between K3,000 and K5,000. Since the cath lab was established in 2019, it has saved the lives of 1,328 patients, with a quarter of these patients receiving free care due to their inability to afford the fees.