17/05/2023
How much more PGK is going out of the country for overseas medical treatments?
Well, to get the answer, we need to know the condition of our health facilities, availability of medical equipments and supplies in the country. We already know of.these things which I don't need to include everything, The reasons why millions of Kina are leaving our shore is because we don't have proper medical facilities and medical supplies. This dates back some 47 years, since PNG got its independance in 1975.
For now, let us focus and find out on how much more PGK is going out of the country. I don't have data support this article and to know exactly how many PNGans travelled overseas for medical treatment, but I'll use Philippines as an example.
I was here in the Philippines for the past 5 years now and to my knowledge, at least 15_plus (no data to confirm, it could be more or less) Papua New Guineans travel to the Philippines alone for medical treatment yearly. I met few and they talked about how expensive it is but life is important. Each person spends at least an average of K150,000 and above, depending on their medical conditions and duration of their stay.
Let's assume, a patient goes to the Philippines with K150,000, this including medical expenses, food, accomodation, care-taker, visa and airfare. So, if we calculate this in the last 20 years, (150,000*15=K2,250,000 annually), or K45,000,000 plus more in 20 years.
*This estimation is only for Philippines.
Imagine how much it would be if we calculate for other countries as well.
There are others who travelled to Australia, Singapore, Melaysia and elsewhere depending on their financial status. If our leaders had sacrificed the funds spent on APEC meeting, Women's Soccer World-Cup, Pacific Games, COP26 meeting in Glasgow, UK, King's Coronation and many other unnessasery overseas trips to build world class hopitals and purchase medical equipments instead, these money should remain in the country.
PNG's 48th independent anniversay is nearing while people are still travelling overseas for medical treatment.
Should we continue travel abroad for medical treatment? What about those of us who could not able to meet the cost?
This is one of the many reasons why Kina is losing its value.
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