Revitalising Papua New Guinea's Health System: The Need for Creative Approaches

Abstract

Health services need substantial strengthening. Deteriorating performance, persistently poor health outcomes and worsening trends on key indicators are well documented. Challenges facing the health system result not just from low expenditure; performance is also constrained by its structure and by cultural factors. In general, investment is determined by supply-side strategies – providing infrastructure and resources consistent with ‘minimum standards’. The assumption is that this delivers the services required by users, and that users can and will access. Evidence indicates that this has led to gaps and misaligned incentives for both providers and users.