Prime Minister Hon. James Marape has today expressed the nation’s gratitude to Dr. Osborne Liko, outgoing Secretary for the Department of Health, for his dedicated and impactful service over the past five years.

Dr. Liko, a respected neurologist and anthropologist, has led the department through unprecedented challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, and has overseen significant improvements in the delivery of health services across Papua New Guinea. Under his stewardship, the department has made strides in strengthening primary healthcare, improving vaccination coverage, and initiating reforms in health workforce development.

“On behalf of the government and people of Papua New Guinea, I thank Dr. Osborne Liko for his tireless commitment and achievements during his tenure,” said Prime Minister Marape. “His expertise and leadership have been invaluable, and we wish him the very best in his future endeavours.”

The Prime Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to a transparent and merit-based appointment process for senior public service positions. “All appointments, including that of the new Health Secretary, must be strictly on merit,” he said. “We are working closely with the Department of Personnel Management (DPM) and the Public Services Commission (PSC) to ensure that only the most qualified and capable individuals are appointed to lead our vital public institutions.”

Prime Minister Marape also raised concerns about the high number of vacancies within the health sector, noting that these gaps hinder the effective delivery of essential services. “It is unacceptable that so many positions remain unfilled in our health department. We must urgently address this issue and ensure that all vacancies are filled by competent professionals,” he stated.

He set an ambitious target for the sector: “By the turn of this decade, we must fill all vacancies in the health sector. This is essential for building a resilient and responsive healthcare system for our people.”

The government remains committed to supporting the health workforce and ensuring that Papua New Guinea’s health system is equipped to meet current and future challenges.