A Guide To Medical Centers In Port Moresby

Are you visiting as a tourist? Or you'll be settling in for some time, because of your career? Nevertheless, it might just be important to you to have an in-depth knowledge of the area, and what the healthcare or medical facilities are like in Port Moresby.

Rest assured, Hausples has another comprehensive guide with a list of medical facilities you should know about. 

To begin with, Papua New Guinea, compared to other south pacific islands, is somewhat isolated and relatively underdeveloped in terms of services and facilities, including transportation, tourism and at least healthcare. Despite this, there is still a considerable expatriate population of approximately a little over 25,000 to date.

Healthcare system

From an outside perspective, the healthcare infrastructure in PNG embodies a low standard, and is quite frankly problematic compared to many Western cultures. Even though the country has received tons of support from overseas in the past decade, it still has a hard time managing the resurgence and prevalence of preventable diseases like Malaria, Typhoid, TB, Cholera and HIV/AIDS.

Strangely enough, where medical facilities have become available and accessible, under-funding emerges as another significant sweat on the forehead which ominously results in scarce medical resources - alongside limited medical personnel and a scanty supply chain.

Regardless, sufficient emergency services can still be accessed with high integrity for medical care within major cities like Port Moresby and Lae. 

Occasionally, if the situation cries for special medical treatment, then airlifts down south are available, and may be the only option for expatriates. 

Malaria and Tuberculosis are the common types of illnesses in Papua New Guinea, so it's highly important to be well vaccinated before you set foot in the country. Most often than not, an effortless access to basic medication can be quite tricky and demanding, so it's wise to be fully stocked with personal prescription medicines.

Reducing risk is an entirely sensible alternative, which is why every visitor is required to protect themselves with relevant health or travel insurance.

We understand that healthcare is - by far - a major concern among those who are moving abroad, and since the birth of COVID-19, so much emphasis has been placed on the type of medical facility available, and whether or not they have the capability to deal with not just coronavirus, but also other major health issues that expatriates may be vulnerable to contracting.

Hospitals and medical clinics in Port Moresby:

Final Words

Relocating to Papua New Guinea can be just as exciting, as well as challenging. After all has been said and done, only visiting for a few days and settling in because your job requires it are two completely different experiences.

While it may be something new to embrace rich, natural environments, novel cultures and exploring all possibilities in a multi-culturally diverse country, you still have to journey upon some brave, sensible decisions as to how you will fare after you've made yourself at home. And of these decisions is to learn as much as you can about the healthcare system of the host country, how to access it, and what it will mean for you once you fall ill.

Moreover, if there’s one area that is crucial but easily overlooked when you are preparing for your move, it’s healthcare. While the healthcare systems in different countries vary a lot, the key differences between private healthcare facilities and their public counterparts remain universal, and Papua New Guinea is no different.