Strengthening Papua New Guinea’s medical supply system

From 27 to 29 July 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) in Papua New Guinea joined the National Department of Health (NDoH), all Provincial Health Authorities (PHAs) and development partners in Port Moresby for a national consultation on the draft Medical Supplies Strategic Plan (MSSP) 2027–2031, a coordinated national response to persistent gaps in access to essential medicines and health commodities.

The consultation focused on practical solutions to structural and interconnected challenges across the medical supply system, including governance, workforce capacity, data and information systems, procurement, warehousing, distribution, inventory management, financing, quality assurance and accountability. Once finalized, the strategy will guide efforts to ensure medicines and health commodities reach health facilities more reliably, including those in remote communities.

Participants review the MSSP’s strategic priorities, proposed actions, indicators and implementation arrangements. © WHO Papua New Guinea 

One coordinated plan for long-term improvement

The strategy envisions one accountable national supply chain led by the NDoH, with five strategic objectives and 14 interdependent strategic domains.

The five strategic objectives include to:

• Establish an integrated and performance-driven supply chain.
• Build a strong analytical and quality foundation for evidence-informed decision-making.
• Improve operational quality at every level of the system.
• Advance procurement and sustainable financing towards greater domestic ownership.
• Institutionalize monitoring, evaluation and implementation capacity.

Grounding the plan in local realities

Dr Billy Joseph, Minister for Health; Mr Pascoe Kase, Secretary for Health; and Dr Rajendra Yadav, WHO Representative to Papua New Guinea, opened the three-day consultation.

Participants reviewed the draft MSSP’s strategic objectives, proposed actions, indicators and implementation priorities, with input from PHAs helping to ensure the plan reflects realities across provinces, districts and health facilities.

The plan sets out shared responsibilities. NDoH will retain responsibility for national policy, standards and central operational functions, while PHAs will undertake provincial and health-facility supply-chain responsibilities under agreed national standards and accountability arrangements.

From top: Dr Billy Joseph, Minister for Health; Mr Pascoe Kase, Secretary for Health; and Dr Rajendra Yadav, WHO Representative to Papua New Guinea, address participants during the consultation workshop. © WHO Papua New Guinea 

Initial implementation phase will focus on establishing the necessary foundations, including:

• Operationalising governance and accountability arrangements.
• Establishing a Logistics Management Unit.
• Conducting a National Supply Chain Assessment.
• Strengthening monitoring and evaluation.
• Improving inventory management.
• Reviewing the national supply-chain network and digital architecture.

Recommendations from the July national consultation will be incorporated into the draft before it proceeds through the required NDoH review and approval processes.

WHO is supporting NDoH in developing the MSSP and facilitating a coordinated, evidence-informed and nationally led approach to improving the medical supply system in Papua New Guinea.

Keeping patients at the centre

The MSSP’s success will be measured by whether patients across Papua New Guinea can obtain the medicines and health commodities they need, when and where they need them – regardless of whether they live near a major hospital or in one of the country’s most remote communities.

© WHO Papua New Guinea