Simbu Hospital scales back service after Dr Waiye’s killing

Simbu health services will now operate on a half-day basis following the killing of Dr Robert Waiye.

Simbu Provincial Health Authority Chief Executive Officer Dr Ken Kassi announced the scale-down in an internal memo dated 21st September 2026.

Dr Kassi said in light of the recent killing of Dr Waiye and the petitioning of provincial authorities, SiPHA will scale down its services to half-day from Monday, 21st September 2026, until further notice.

Under the new arrangement, services will operate from 8:00AM to 12:00PM daily.

The Emergency Department will continue to operate 24 hours under its usual arrangement.

However, all consultation clinics at Sir Joseph Nombri-Kundiawa Provincial Hospital will be closed.

All special clinics, including TB, PRAPRA, physiotherapy, NOPS and others, will also be closed and only operate on arrangements with staff for the supply of drugs.

The Children's Outpatient Department [COPD] and Adult Outpatient Department [AOPD] will operate until midday only.

Public Health Directorate Headquarters and Primary Health Services will also operate up to midday.

Dr Kassi directed all officers in charge and heads of departments of the wards, operating theatre, pathology laboratory, blood bank, X-ray, CT/MRI/ultrasound, dental and pharmacy to maintain rosters and on-call arrangements to ensure patient care services continue.

The CEO stressed that the scale-down is not a holiday.

“Note that scaling down is not a holiday. SiPHA is a critical health providing government body empowered by the PHA Act 2007 and its amendments and will not tolerate health staff taking this current situation as a reason for being absent from your roster to provide Patient Care to other human beings,” Dr Kassi stated.

“The matter at hand has been placed in the hands of the law. We are grieving, terrified, and demoralized, but this must not sabotage another human life seeking our mandated life-restoring jobs and responsibilities,” he added.

Dr Kassi conveyed his deepest condolences to the family of the late Dr Robert Waiye and said SiPHA stands with the family for justice.

The general public in Simbu is advised to visit the hospital early, before 12 midday, as all services will close after midday except for the Emergency Department.