Madamg’s Modilon General Hospital scales down its operations effective Friday May 26, 2017, due to dire financial constraints it is experiencing.

To add salt to the wound and as part of its contingency plans, the hospital has increased its fees for its pathology services which will apply for emergency cases only.

Chief executive officer of Modilon Sr Christine Gawi in a circular issued to staff and a public notice said the hospital had a duty of care to ensure delivery of health services therefore assured the hospital would remain open to the public.

However, that contingency measures approved by the board chairman Fr Jan Czuba and his deputy Dr Boga Figa would be effected.

  • Acccident and Emergency, Adult and Children’s Outpatient Departments would remain open. Treatment prescriptions will be given but patients referred to town pharmacies to purchase their drugs;
  • Dispensary/Pharmacy-will be closed to outpatients, and only inpatients would be attended to;
  • Pathology services-will also be closed to outpatients. However the new pathology fees will apply for emergency cases only. The service will continue to be available to inpatients;
  • The operating theatres-accessible only for emergency cases while all elective cases will be on hold;
  • Radiology services-will be closed to outpatients and with staff attending only inpatients and emergency.

Fr Czuba said categories exempted from the new pathology fees are those aged less than seven and over 60, those with tuberculosis, HIV/AIDs, psychiatric patients, destitutes, prisoners, battling cancer, chronic renal/liver failure, asthmatic, and epileptic.

An irate resident and private medical practioner Dr John Mackerel has expressed his grave displeasure stating “So much for the government’s free health care” service.

President of the Madang Chamber of Commerce and Industry Kevin Murray in a chain email to alert its private sector members hailed the news as disturbing.

“Herewith some disturbing news re the desperate state of Modilon Hospital. Please advise your staff of these new measures the Board is taking to keep the Hospital running,” Mr Murray said.