Papua New Guinea, a nation home to more than 10 million people, has long faced challenges due to geographic fragmentation, infrastructure gaps, limited health care funding and high disease rates. In 2021, the government introduced the National Health Plan 2021-2030, a guide to systemic reform that focuses on targeted initiatives, such as the Emergency Ministerial HIV Response Plan. Here is everything to know about Papua New Guinea’s newest health policies and how they are shifting the nation’s health care toward a more unified and responsive direction.

The National Digital Health Strategy

Papua New Guinea is divided into 22 provinces, each with its own health authority. Due to the fragmented nature of the nation’s health care system, the government has previously struggled to manage and fund these distinct Provincial Health Authorities (PHAs). One of Papua New Guinea’s newest health policies is the National Digital Health Strategy, which aims to unify all 22 of the nation’s provinces under a single digital framework and financial management system and to increase citizens’ access to affordable health services.

Some of the strategies being employed to increase access to health care services include:

• Implementing user-friendly incentive schemes to encourage communities, especially women, to seek care
• Strengthening the referral process to ensure all patients can access the level of health care they require
• Increasing hospital capacity to accommodate more patients and expand outreach to those who cannot access health care on their own

Recently, Papua New Guinea has found evidence of improved communication among the 22 PHAs and improved data collection, thanks to these new approaches. District Health Manager in Wewak, East Sepik, Raymond Pomoni, praised the recent digitalization of the health care system, saying that it “will give [them] timely feedback on what [they] are doing in the district, especially in terms of health service delivery.”

The Emergency Ministerial HIV Response Plan

In 2025, the government officially declared a national HIV crisis and announced that infection rates had doubled in the last five years. The crisis has prompted the government to urgently seek a more modern approach to prevention and treatment.

New strategies include allocating nearly $14 million in emergency funds to improve citizens’ access to testing and treatment for tuberculosis, HIV and malaria. This new funding will also be channeled toward expanding services for specified populations, such as adolescents, women and those living in poverty.

Citizens, HIV advocates and health care workers have already expressed support for these policies, praising the National Executive Council and Prime Minister James Marape for addressing the HIV crisis. One woman living with HIV, who pursued education and raised two children despite her condition, said she is “very thankful,” and that the doctors “helped [her] continue living for [her] children.”

The Health Medium Term Development Plan II 2024-2027

With the aim of reducing child mortality rates and upgrading hospital infrastructure, the Health Medium Term Development Plan II 2024-2027 is one of the more hands-on of Papua New Guinea’s newest health policies.

The plan implements new ideas for how funding flow should be directed, obligating all health agencies to review their budgeting plans and allocate funds to the following key investment areas:

• Primary Health Care
• Specialized Health Care
• Health Infrastructure
• Specialized Training and Accreditation
• HIV and AIDS

The implementation of these new funding strategies will lead to the renovation of existing maternal care wards and fund the building of new ones. This is a crucial step toward increasing access to health care for people living in poverty, many of whom were previously unable to afford transportation to the nearest hospital. As the number of hospitals grows, pressure on medical workers is reduced and the distance between patients and the care they need is shortened.

Looking Ahead

The implementation of the National Health Plan 2021-2030 marks a pivotal turning point in Papua New Guinea’s approach to public health care. By addressing systemic issues from three distinct angles, these newest health policies have already unified the provinces, mobilized an urgent response to the HIV crisis, and upgraded health care facilities and funding. While geographical and logistical challenges continue to confront the nation, the new policies and advancements vividly demonstrate the government’s commitment to lowering child mortality rates and protecting the health of the population as a whole.

– Ruby Fraser

Ruby is based in Cannes, France and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay