21/10/2025
Urgent: Medicine Shortage in Papua New Guinea — What every Papua New Guinean should know
Short summary (in one line): Many PNG health facilities are reporting critical shortages of essential medicines — this is disrupting surgeries, routine care, and vaccination campaigns and forcing people to risky alternatives.
What’s happening now
Several provincial hospitals and health facilities have been running low or out of key medicines, forcing reductions in services (for example, surgical services at Alotau have been scaled back).
Reports and health leaders point to recurring shortages across provinces, not just isolated clinics — a national systems problem.
Main causes (what’s behind the shortage)
1. Supply-chain and stock-management problems — stock forecasting, ordering and distribution between the National Department of Health, Provincial Health Authorities and health centres is weak in places.
2. Procurement and regulatory gaps — the medicines system is undergoing regulatory reform and procurement improvements, but gaps remain that cause delays and interruptions.
3. Staff shortages and capacity — PNG needs more trained pharmacists and supply-chain staff to manage medicines properly; shortages of trained personnel make stock problems worse.
4. Funding, transport and geography — irregular funding, customs clearance delays, and Papua New Guinea’s difficult transport environment (many rural/remote communities) increase stock-outs. (Highlight supported by broader supply-chain reporting.)
Immediate impacts on people
Elective surgeries and some essential treatments are being delayed or cancelled.
Families are being forced to rely on private pharmacies (if available) or informal sellers — which raises the risk of expired, counterfeit or unsafe medicines.
Vaccination and public health campaigns become harder to run when basic vaccine and cold-chain logistics are fragile (this is especially risky given recent vaccine-preventable disease alerts).
What government and partners are doing
The National Department of Health is engaged in medicines regulatory reform and technical reviews, working with WHO and partners to improve the system.
International partners (UN agencies, Australia and others) have supported supply-chain strengthening projects in regions such as the Highlands to improve stock management.
Practical advice for families and communities (what you can do right now)
1. Don’t buy medicines from unregulated street vendors. If a seller has no pharmacy license or no pharmacist on site, medicines may be counterfeit, sub-standard, or expired.
2. Check packaging and expiry dates. Only accept sealed, labelled medicines with expiry dates and manufacturer details. If in doubt, keep the packaging and report it.
3. Use public clinics first, but ask about stock. Before travelling long distances for treatment, call your clinic or provincial health office to check medicine availability. (Provincial Health Authorities and the National Department of Health are the official channels.)
4. Keep an essential-medicine list and small family stock safely. For common conditions (e.g., paracetamol for fever/pain, oral rehydration for diarrhoea) keep a small, safely stored supply — but avoid hoarding.
5. If a medicine is unavailable, ask about safe alternatives. Health workers can often prescribe an alternative or advise when to return. Don’t double doses or share prescription medicines.
6. Report shortages and unsafe sales. If your clinic is out of stock or you find suspicious medicines being sold, report to your Provincial Health Authority or the National Department of Health (website and contacts listed below).
What communities and leaders can do
Local leaders: coordinate with your Provincial Health Authority to maintain a clean record of medicines needed and to prioritize urgent supplies to clinics serving your community.
Health volunteers and churches: help with community education (safe medicine use, vaccination importance), and with tracking which medicines are missing.
Local businesses: if you can help with safe, documented transport for medical supplies (e.g., from provincial stores to outstations) coordinate with the PHA — but do not accept or move medicine without official receipt and temperature control where needed.
A short sample message you can send to your MP or Provincial Health Authority
> Dear [Name], our community at [village/ward] is facing a shortage of essential medicines at [clinic name]. This is affecting pregnant women/children/elderly. Please urgently coordinate with the Provincial Health Authority and the National Department of Health to prioritise stock delivery and report back on expected timing. We can assist with local distribution once supplies arrive.
Sources & further reading (key references)
Alotau Provincial Hospital scaled back operations because of drug shortages (local reporting).
National reporting on health facilities facing drug shortages across provinces.
UNFPA / partners: initiatives to strengthen medical supply chain management in PNG’s Highlands.
WHO: Papua New Guinea advancing medicines regulatory reform with technical support.
Pharmaceutical Society and reporting on shortage of pharmacists and workforce gaps in PNG.
(You can find the National Department of Health on their website for official contact details and to report problems: the department’s site is listed in government directories.)
Closing — a call to action
This is a national problem that needs coordinated national, provincial and community responses. Speak up for your clinic, protect your family by avoiding unregulated medicines, and work with local leaders to pressure authorities for reliable supplies. When communities, health staff and partners work together, stock-outs can be turned into planned, steady supplies — but it starts with reporting, sensible use, and demanding accountability.
