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The Cost of Crime
Milne Bay a widely known province of peaceful communities and strong cultural identity. Yet in recent years, that image has been deeply shaken by waves of crime and violence that left many residents living in fear. During the height of this unrest, the province drew national attention as criminal activity escalated, and law enforcement struggled…
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A Practical Telepathology Setup in Papua New Guinea
Telemedicine refers to the delivery of healthcare over distance using information and communication technology. At its simplest, this can be a doctor consulting a patient over a video call, for example a psychiatrist speaking with a patient remotely. More advanced forms involve the transmission of clinical data such as images, videos, and physiological measurements to…
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Cancer Awareness Visit to Jack’s of PNG
October is the month dedicated to breast cancer awareness. Earlier this month, I had the privilege of joining one of my colleagues and one of my bosses to visit Jack’s of PNG warehouse at Hohola, Port Moresby, for a cancer awareness program organized by the PNG Cancer Foundation. The Foundation regularly coordinates visits by doctors…
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The Papua New Guinea Medical Journal: A National Platform for Health Research and Knowledge.
The Papua New Guinea Medical Journal (PNG Med J) holds a unique place in the history of medicine and public health in the Pacific. First published in May 1955 under the title Papua and New Guinea Medical Journal, it emerged as a platform for sharing medical research and clinical experiences relevant to the then Territory…
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Port Moresby General Hospital Patient Safety Day & Independence Roadshow 2025
Friday 19th September was one of those rare hospital days that felt less like work and more like a festival. Port Moresby General Hospital came alive as we celebrated World Patient Safety Day & Independence Roadshow. The Pathology team began the day as usual with our morning meeting and on-call handover, then we quickly mapped…
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PNG Medical Blog at the Community Justice Fund Grant Awards in Support of Community-Driven Impact
The PNG Medical Blog team had the pleasure of attending the Community Justice Fund grant awards at the Australian High Commission on Wednesday, 10th September, 2025. The awards were presented by PNG’s Minister for Justice & Attorney General, Hon. Pila Niningi MP. and Australia’s Attorney-General, Hon. Michelle Rowland MP. The Community Justice Fund (CJF) is…
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A Friday for a Pathology Registrar
Friday morning. It was 9 a.m. when I left the office. The morning meeting had been a long one, the previous night’s on-call shift summary was presented then other issues discussed. Afterwards, I spent a few minutes discussing a case with my colleague; we had a pediatric patient booked for a bone marrow aspiration in…
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Burn out
It was finally the end of the month, and we had got through without any major issues. I was completing clinic duties when I received a call to attend to an emergency case in the Emergency Department (ED). I rushed over, where both the Emergency and Anaesthetic teams were stabilising the patient—a trauma case requiring…
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A Strong Child
He was a quiet, smart young lad who somehow always had a huge smile on his face. Ward rounds were a mixture of emotions, as he was always happy to greet the team but reluctant to show us his wounds. Most days were bearable, as he only needed to fight through the pain of daily…
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What is a Full Blood Examination?
A Full Blood Examination (FBE), also known as a Full Blood Count (FBC) or Complete Blood Count (CBC), is one of the most commonly requested blood tests in hospitals and clinics across Papua New Guinea. Whether a patient is well or unwell, the FBE is often one of the first tests done. The name “full…
