A shortage of basic medicines and medical supplies at Madang Provincial Hospital is placing increasing pressure on health workers and raising concerns about patient care.

Madang Provincial Health Authority CEO Dr. Martin Damen said medical staff were struggling to carry out their normal duties because essential supplies were not arriving in the quantities ordered.

The hospital normally orders more than 1,000 different medical items, but Dr Damen said only 10% of the requested items were being supplied.

Among the shortages are basic medicines such as painkillers and antibiotics, along with consumables including gauze and syringes.

The shortage also extends to medicines needed for specialist services, including the operating theatre, labour ward and intensive care unit.

“This has placed a high risk on patient care,” Dr Damen said.

The health authority has therefore decided to reserve its remaining stocks for emergencies and patients admitted to the hospital.

Routine walk-in patients who are stable will be provided with prescriptions to purchase medicines outside the hospital.

Dr Damen said the situation was particularly concerning because the province is also preparing for potential increases in illness associated with El Niño conditions.

He said health authorities were expecting possible increases in malaria, diarrhoea, respiratory illnesses and skin diseases.

However, no outbreak had been recorded at the time of the interview.

Health teams are conducting surveillance across facilities to identify any outbreaks early.

Dr Damen urged the public to take preventive measures, particularly by ensuring drinking water is properly treated and safely stored.

He said people should also avoid activities that could put their lives at risk while medical services were operating under restrictions.

The provincial health authority will reassess the service reduction after about one month.