Strengthening Health Workforce Education in PNG

As Papua New Guinea (PNG) works to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC), improving the quality of health care services is a key priority. An integrated approach comprising strong governance at the national level; high-quality accreditation, educational institutes and programs; strong professional associations that support continuing professional development; and robust regulation and professional standards are required to ensure safe health care (Rumsey 2020)1. Moreover, ensuring the quality of the professional health workforce, of new health graduates and of health educators is a critical component of any plan that is designed to improve healthcare quality. In PNG, improving the capacity and capability of nurses and community health workers (CHW) is of particular importance. Comprising 72% of the country’s professional health workforce (WHO 2020), nurses and CHWs are integral to PNG’s key health priority and health security response efforts, especially in rural and remote contexts. The existing curricula for these health workers, moreover, are not fit-for-purpose. Developed in the late 1990s and finalised in 2002, they not in line with the National Department of Health (NDoH) National Health Plan 2021-2030, nor with current educational and clinical best practice.

To best support PNG’s health workforce in meeting the country’s current and future health needs, the WHO Collaborating Centre for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Development at University of Technology Sydney (WHO CC UTS) has been tasked with carrying out the Review and Development of National Curricula for the Diploma of General Nursing and Certificate for Community Health Workers (CHWs) program in partnership with the National Department of Health (NDoH), the World Health Organization: Papua New Guinea (WHO PNG), the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), and the PNG–Australia Transition to Health (PATH) program. The program is funded by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trading (DFAT).

The goal of the National Curricula Review and Development program is to strengthen nursing and CHW education in PNG. The WHO CC UTS is working with the NDOH to:

  1. Develop a governance framework between stakeholders
  2. Develop a national CHW and Nursing curriculum framework, following a desktop review Gap Analysis of key health outcomes and NDOH Baseline Survey into the effectiveness of the current curricula
  3. Carry out national curricula framework consultations, accreditation and approvals
  4. a. Develop and run fast track / capacity building program for educators and clinicians CHWs and nursing
    b. Develop and carry out a curriculum implementation and delivery plan
  5. Review faculty capacity, support and curriculum delivery
  6. Develop a national continuing professional development plan
  7. Carry out continuous monitoring, evaluation research and learning (MERL)

In addition to the Desktop Review Gap Analysis and Baseline Survey conducted in partnership with the NDoH, the latest national, regional, and global health literature will be continuously reviewed to highlight priority areas for curriculum review and development. This will ensure that the revised curricula is aligned with the NDoH’s new National Health Plan, as well as with the latest international health priorities and standards of best practice. By updating the curricula and supporting capacity-building and professional development activities for nursing and CHW graduates, educators, clinicians and faculty. The program’s long-term aim is to improve the quality of nursing and CHW graduates and, by extension, the capability and capacity of PNG’s health workforce. This program, moreover, will aim to support PNG in achieving UHC and in meeting its Sustainable Development Goals.

References:

Rumsey, M. 2020. “Global Health and Nursing”, in Daly, J., Speedy, S., and Jackson, D. [eds]. Contexts of Nursing: 6th Edition, Australia Elsevier.
World Health Organization 2020. State of the World's Nursing 2020: Investing in Education, Jobs and Leadership. Report. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2020.

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.