PNG Health Practitioners Registration System Launch

Through the WHO CC UTS regulation advisory work in Papua New Guinea, a new health practitioner's registration database, a vital source of information for health workforce planning in Papua New Guinea, has been launched.

The new database holds details of all registered nurses and midwives in Papua New Guinea, including new and overseas nurses and midwives. Previously these professionals were recorded in a paper-based system which was outdated and inaccurate. There were many people recorded more than once, or nurses and midwives who had retired or moved away were still on the record. There was very little knowledge of who and how many health workers were available in Papua New Guinea.

The Nursing Council has also now undertaken the majority of accreditation audits for existing and proposed Diploma of General Nursing programs.

Because of the major reform of the Nursing Council and updated information available, it is now known that 6,271 practitioners are registered with the Nursing Council, well below the WHO recommended threshold of 45 health workers per 10,000 population). Including new graduates, 4,566 of these are registered nurses, 721 are registered midwives and 1,427 are nurse aides. Also, it is known that while graduates receive certificates following graduation from their School of Nursing, many have travelled back to provinces making access to this certificate difficult. Nursing Schools have increased from 7 to 13 and Midwifery Schools from 4 to 5 over 5 years (since 2012). This work has been supported by the WHOCC UTS and funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs Australia.