In a vital stride toward boosting diagnostic services, the Mt Hagen Provincial Hospital hosted a small yet significant ground-breaking ceremony for a new Radiology Department.
A ground-breaking ceremony was held last Friday (August 29th, 2025) to celebrate the establishment of the new building, which was officiated by the WHPHA’s Board Chairman, Sam Koim, witnessed by other board members, representatives from the provincial government, key stakeholders including representatives from the National Department of Health, Department of Finance, and Department of the Prime Minister and its National Executive Council members and hospital staff led by acting CEO Jane Holden.
The establishment of this new building marks an important milestone in healthcare delivery. The new building will house services such as CT scans, mammograms, X-rays, and ultrasound services for patients within the province.
“Today is historic in many ways, and I am proud to stand here with all of you,” Mr. Koim stated. He acknowledged frustrations expressed by communities regarding the hospital’s limited diagnostic capabilities, which often require patients to travel to other provinces for basic scans.
“Whenever I visit the village, I hear complaints about Mt. Hagen Hospital lacking essential services and equipment, forcing people to seek treatment in other provinces, and I believe many of you have likely received similar complaints. Unfortunately, the resources we receive from the government are minimal, which is why we have been having difficulties securing funding outside of our normal funding to purchase some of the needed equipment.
“Despite these challenges, we have some of the best doctors both here and abroad. However, we often lack the tools needed to perform at full capacity. Today, I am pleased to announce, on behalf of the board and management, that we have procured some essential equipment for the new radiology department at a cost of over K5 million. This funding was secured through donations from Kumul Petroleum Holdings, separate from our usual government support.”
Mr Koim said that the new radiology department is part of a broader strategic and clinical redevelopment plan for Mt Hagen Hospital, which has seen a dramatic rise in national rankings, moving from 8th place some years ago, then to 1st place last year, and 2nd place this year.
“I believe we have come a long way as a Provincial Health Authority. With a fully equipped department, I am confident that we will operate as a level 5 hospital and work towards achieving level 6 status.
The ceremony concluded with a farewell to the old building and anticipation of welcoming the construction of the new radiology building.
The construction is expected to take approximately 3-4 months, and the project has been awarded to Aesthetic PNG Ltd.
