Prime Minister Hon. James Marape has intervened to address delays in a Japanese Government grant aid project to upgrade the maternity wing at Port Moresby General Hospital.

“I am aware that the Japanese Government offered to fund the refurbishment of the maternity wing,” Prime Minister Marape said. “Unfortunately, there have been delays because the hospital management did not confirm acceptance of the project.”

He acknowledged leading gynaecologist Dr Glen Mola, who raised the matter publicly, and said:

“There is no reason to doubt Dr Mola, who has devoted his professional life to this field. If he says there is a crisis, authorities must act immediately and plan for the future.”

Prime Minister Marape stressed that the hospital, built for a city of under 200,000, now struggles to meet the needs of a population nearing one million. He emphasised urgent short-term interventions and reaffirmed broader plans, including suburban hospitals and a new National Capital hospital in partnership with the NCD and development partners.

“I have summoned the Secretary for Health, the Minister for Health, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Port Moresby General Hospital CEO Dr Paki Molumi, Dr Glen Mola, and all involved to a meeting on Friday, 2 May 2025, to resolve this matter,” Prime Minister Marape announced.

He underlined the need for professionalism in handling international development partnerships:

“When partners like Japan step in to help, we must not create obstacles. We must respect and honour these partnerships.”

Prime Minister Marape made these remarks after launching renovation works at the hospital’s morgue and ICU, funded by the Indonesian Government. The issue came to public attention after Dr Mola revealed that mothers were delivering babies on the floor due to a lack of birthing spaces — a problem that could have been alleviated had the Japanese-funded project been accepted.

“Our mothers and children deserve better,” Prime Minister Marape said. “We must act now.”