Madang hospital scales down services amid ongoing water crisis
The Madang Provincial Hospital has scaled down its operations due to a prolonged water shortage affecting the entire town.
Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Madang Provincial Health Authority [PHA], Dr. Sammy Thomas, confirmed the decision in a circular issued yesterday, citing the continued lack of water supply to the hospital and surrounding areas.
"The outpatient services for both adults and children will be closed and focus directed to emergencies only, Dr. Thomas said.
“All referrals must be redirected to the nearest health centres and/ or rural hospitals. Ambulatory care is also suspended unless required for dying emergencies that need specialist care at the provincial hospital."
He noted that the situation, now entering its third week, remains unresolved with no clear explanation from Water PNG regarding the cause of the disruption.
Day clinics at the hospital have also been closed. Staff will remain on standby for emergency situations, and resources will be redeployed to high-need areas, particularly hospital wards. Only the Tuberculosis [TB], Sexually Transmitted Infection [STI], and HIV/AIDS clinics will remain open, but strictly for dispensing medication to existing patients.
Dr Thomas emphasized that the labor ward cannot operate without water. Expectant mothers are advised to seek care at nearby facilities such as Yagaum or Alexishafen health centres.
All elective surgeries have been suspended, with surgical resources reserved for emergencies. Stable patients will be discharged, while care is prioritised for critically ill individuals. The hospital ambulance will assist in returning discharged patients home—limited to those residing within an hour’s drive.
Radiology and pathology departments will cater only to inpatients and emergencies. The hospital pharmacy will provide medication only to admitted and recently discharged patients.
The physiotherapy department has been closed to the public but will continue to support inpatients as needed.
Dr. Thomas has directed all departmental managers to enforce these temporary measures immediately and to provide regular updates until the water situation improves.