Health services in Papua New Guinea

The government of Papua New Guinea has been committed since independence to providing primary health care to its entire population through a government-operated national health system. In spite of geographic, cultural, and linguistic barriers, most people have access to primary health services and major indicators of the health of the population have improved. However, deficiencies in the provision of preventive services exist and common infectious diseases, particularly malaria, are still the main causes of morbidity and mortality. Economic realities dictate that improvements in health status in the immediate future will have to come through improved productivity and quality of services rather than expansion of the health care system.