Courts halts Gasmata clinic upgrade, demands focus on Kandrian Hospital

The National Court has issued an interim injunction stopping plans to upgrade the Gasmata Health Centre into a Level 3 facility.

Instead, the Court directed attention to the long-delayed Kandrian District Hospital, a Level 4 facility completed five years ago but still unopened.

The order, handed down on February 19, 2026, restrains the West New Britain Provincial Health Authority [WNBPHA] and the National Department of Health [NDOH] from entering into any contract with a successful bidder until the next hearing on March 4, 2026.

The case was brought forward by Dr. Steven Yennie, CEO of the Kandrian Gloucester District Development Authority, who argued that funds should first be directed to opening the Kandrian Hospital.

Supplementary affidavits filed by Dr. Yennie and Kandrian Gloucester MP Joseph Lelang emphasized the urgent need to maintain and operationalize existing facilities before launching new projects.

Dr. Yennie told the Court: “Because of the failure by the WNBPHA and the National Department of Health, the people of Kandrian have been denied essential medical services for more than a decade. It is only fair and proper that the Kandrian Hospital be made fully operational before other medical centers are considered.”

For now, the Gasmata upgrade remains on hold, with the spotlight firmly on Kandrian Hospital and the broader healthcare crisis in the Kandrian Gloucester District.

The upcoming March hearing will determine whether the Court directs health authorities to finally open the long-awaited hospital before pursuing further projects.