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The PNG Health Department will provide the 172 unregistered church-run health facilities with funding assistance.
Health Secretary Pascoe Kase says Kase said about 20% of the church-run institutions were not registered or recognised by the Government.
“A lot of the health infrastructures were put in by the churches themselves many years ago even before the government came into their aid.
“It is about time the government through the Treasury and National Planning departments support the church health services by putting provisions.
“There are a number of facilities that need to be registered to be supported by the government.”
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Papua New Guinea’s health status “is the lowest in the Pacific Region.”
An estimated 70 percent of the population lives on less than $1 per day, and many live in scattered, rural communities with poor infrastructure, making the delivery of adequate healthcare very difficult.
There is a shortage of rural health facilities and trained medical staff, as well as other social factors which are contributing to the decline in the health system.
Christian Health Services director Joseph Sika said the 172 facilities were not recognised under government system but provided better services in rural communities.
Sika said there were 713 facilities operating with 541 funded by the government
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