Papua New Guineans seeking specialist medical treatment are set to gain greater access to healthcare expertise from India under a new partnership between CPL Group's City Pharmacy Medical Clinic and Apollo Hospitals.

The agreement creates a referral pathway linking patients in PNG with specialist consultations and advanced medical services in India, while also opening opportunities for international medical expertise to be shared with healthcare professionals locally.

The partnership was formally launched in Port Moresby on Wednesday, September 9, with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between CPL Group chief executive officer Ajay Patel and Apollo Health senior manager for international marketing Dr Harsh Jadhav.

The signing followed a Continuous Medical Education programme attended by visiting Apollo specialists, including cardiologist Dr Varun Bansal and oncologist Dr Asit Arora.

Port Moresby General Hospital oncologist Dr Peter Olali, along with other medical professionals and industry partners, also attended the event.

Mr Patel said the partnership would help connect Papua New Guineans with international specialist expertise and provide patients with better information when considering overseas treatment.

He said the arrangement would also allow medical knowledge and expertise from India to be shared with healthcare workers in PNG, helping strengthen local professional capacity.

Patients will have access to specialist consultations and telehealth services, as well as multidisciplinary clinical expertise and advanced treatment options.

The partnership will also provide access to technologies including robotic medical systems and artificial intelligence-driven healthcare solutions.

As part of the visiting delegation's programme, Dr Arora and Dr Bansal are scheduled to provide specialist oncology and cardiology consultations at City Pharmacy Medical Clinic in Port Moresby.

CPL Group said the partnership would provide Papua New Guineans with greater opportunities to access innovative and patient-centred healthcare services.

The company said it remained committed to helping Papua New Guineans live better and healthier lives while developing a long-term relationship with Apollo Hospitals.

Headlines

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• PNG Parliament Told of Bougainville's Overwhelming Vote for Independence
• PNG Rolls Out Nationwide Drought Response as El Niño Bites
  

Three people, including two members of the police force, are now in custody following investigations into the escape of 25 prisoners from the Wabag Police Station in Enga Province.

The arrests mark the first major action against individuals allegedly linked to the mass breakout, with Acting Enga Provincial Police Commander Chief Inspector Daniel Yangen confirming that the two officers have been charged with 22 indictable offences.

Among the allegations against the officers is aiding and abetting the escape of prisoners, while the civilian has been charged with aiding one escapee.

All three are being held at Wabag Police Station without bail pending court proceedings.

Chief Inspector Yangen has also ordered police prosecutors to compile and present a report on the jailbreak as authorities continue investigating the incident.

The police commander said efforts to find the escaped prisoners were continuing, with awareness activities already launched in Tsak Valley and Wapenamanda.

Police are urging communities to cooperate with the search and not assist anyone believed to be among the fugitives.

Chief Inspector Yangen issued a strong warning that people found sheltering or helping the escapees could themselves be arrested and prosecuted.

He also reminded leaders, magistrates and community members that the justice process must not be obstructed.

The police awareness campaign comes after Internal Affairs conducted an investigation into the escape.

Despite the arrests of the alleged accomplices, police have not yet located any of the 25 prisoners who broke out of the station.

Chief Inspector Yangen said it is important for the rule of law to take place whilst reminding leaders, magistrates and community members that they will be charged and arrested if found harboring and aiding these escapees and preventing justice to take its course.

Headlines

• PNG’s Pangu Highway gets its maiden run as PM Marape takes the wheel
• PNG Parliament Told of Bougainville's Overwhelming Vote for Independence
• PNG Rolls Out Nationwide Drought Response as El Niño Bites
• Japan Gifts 60 Vehicles To Support PNG Security Push
  

A road that took generations to build finally got its maiden run today, with Prime Minister James Marape behind the wheel.

More than 100 vehicles followed him out of Port Moresby as he headed for Lae along the Transnational Highway, a route now set to be renamed the Pangu Highway. It is the first time the Southern Region has been physically connected to Momase and the Highlands by road.

Marape only touched down in the country on Sunday evening, flying back from the Pacific Islands Forum in Palau, before turning around almost immediately to make the drive – a trip clearly timed to line up with celebrations for PNG’s 51st Independence anniversary.

The final missing link between Gulf and Morobe had long been considered one of the toughest stretches in the country to build through, and it shows in the price tag: roughly K60 million for 168 kilometres of highway, according to figures from the Works and Highways Department.

What made the job even harder was the terrain itself – rivers, jungle and mountains that had separated two neighbouring provinces for as long as anyone could remember, until road crews from both sides finally met in the middle.

The Prime Minister travelled in a specially prepared Toyota Land Cruiser, complete with a mounted Starlink internet kit that let him stay in touch with the public online for the entire length of the journey.

Headlines

• PNG Parliament Told of Bougainville's Overwhelming Vote for Independence
• PNG Rolls Out Nationwide Drought Response as El Niño Bites
• Japan Gifts 60 Vehicles To Support PNG Security Push
• Two Parties Unite: PNG Party, Nesenel Unity Party Strike MoA for 2027
  

Papua New Guinea's National Parliament this week received one of the most significant documents in the country's post-independence history, as the results of the 2019 Bougainville Referendum were officially tabled, confirming that 97.7 percent of Bougainvilleans cast their ballots in favour of Independence.

Bougainville Affairs Minister Manaseh Makiba presented the referendum outcome alongside two other key documents — the Joint Consultation Report and the Melanesian Framework Agreement — marking a major step in the long-running process between Waigani and Buka.

The Joint Consultation Report captures the discussions held between the two governments since the referendum was conducted, while the Melanesian Framework Agreement sets out proposed next steps should Parliament vote to endorse the outcome. Despite the tabling, none of the three documents were opened up for full parliamentary debate, and the Framework Agreement in particular remains a point of unresolved discussion.

According to Minister Makiba, PNG and Bougainville authorities have yet to agree on what would happen should Parliament reject the referendum result, as the current framework only provides direction for a scenario where members vote in support of it.

He made clear, however, that lawmakers are not bound to any predetermined outcome. "[Parliament] retains the discretion to make any decision on the Referendum results as it considers appropriate," Makiba told the House.

The Minister added that should the vote go against the referendum result, a way forward could still be developed under the terms of the Bougainville Peace Agreement. He closed his address by calling on his fellow MPs to be mindful of the weight of the decision ahead of them, urging them to keep the hopes of the Bougainvillean people at the centre of their deliberations when the matter eventually comes to a vote.

Headlines

• PNG Rolls Out Nationwide Drought Response as El Niño Bites
• Japan Gifts 60 Vehicles To Support PNG Security Push
• Two Parties Unite: PNG Party, Nesenel Unity Party Strike MoA for 2027
• PNG, Solomon Islands to deepen business ties as Marape heads to Honiara
  

Papua New Guinea has activated a countrywide response to a worsening drought crisis, with the National Capital District and Gulf Province now sitting in the most severe category as dry conditions spread across the country.

Health and National Disaster Services Minister Dr Billy Joseph confirmed the situation on Monday, saying the National Disaster Centre (NDC) was working hand in hand with provincial governments and communities to soften the blow of the El Niño weather pattern now gripping the nation.

The latest Drought Early Warning System update released by the National Weather Service for August shows NCD and Gulf under "critical" or extreme alert, while ten other provinces – Bougainville, Central, Chimbu, Eastern Highlands, Hela, Manus, Milne Bay, Morobe, New Ireland, Southern Highlands, West New Britain and Western – have been placed on "severe" alert. A further eight provinces, including East New Britain, East Sepik, Enga, Jiwaka, Madang, Oro, West Sepik and Western Highlands, are on "moderate" watch, according to the three-month forecast.

Dr Joseph said the figures reflected what villagers and town residents were already living through. "This update from NWS confirms what many of our communities are already experiencing on the ground – prolonged dry conditions that are affecting water supply, food gardens and daily livelihoods," he said.
The National Executive Council, through Decision No. 154/2026, has directed provinces and districts to take the lead as first responders in their own areas, with the NDC providing coordination and support nationally. Cabinet also approved the reprioritising of existing funds already sitting in government systems, releasing K10 million from the Provincial Services Improvement Program for each province and K5 million from the District Services Improvement Program for each district.
An El Niño Ministerial Committee, chaired by Dr Joseph, has also been established to oversee the government's response, while the NDC has been tasked with leading recovery efforts through to 2027. The PNG Disaster Management Team, co-chaired by the NDC and the United Nations Resident Coordinator's Office, will bring in additional support from development partners.
The NDC said it had not waited for the drought to peak before acting. Its National Emergency Operation Centre was activated and provincial centres told to stand up as soon as the National Weather Service first flagged the onset of El Niño on 16 June, placing the country's disaster machinery on alert well before the current crisis deepened.
Since then, the Centre said it had been building the capacity of provincial disaster committees, helping with emergency supplies, transport and storage arrangements, and rolling out Starlink internet connections in every province to close communication gaps between Port Moresby and the districts.
Dr Joseph appealed to communities in the worst-hit provinces to conserve water and report any drought-related hardship to their nearest Provincial Disaster Officer or to the NDC's National Emergency Operation Centre, which can be reached toll-free on 113, on landline 325 2313, via WhatsApp on 7999 8666, or by email at neoc@pngndc.gov.pg.
"Government is aware, and Government is acting," the Minister said.

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• BSP Plans New Headquarters in Port Moresby
  

A fresh batch of over 60 police vehicles is now in the hands of the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary, courtesy of the Japanese government, marking one of the larger equipment boosts the force has received in recent years.
The vehicles, worth K12.8 million under Japan's economic and social development programme, were officially handed over at the National Centre of Excellence in Bomana by Japanese Ambassador to PNG Hisanobu Mochizuki.
According to the ambassador, the fleet addresses a long-standing gap in police mobility that has made it difficult for officers to respond quickly to incidents or maintain a visible presence in outlying communities.

Mochizuki tied the donation to preparations for the 2027 general election, saying stronger, more mobile policing would be vital to keeping the country stable and secure as the vote approaches.

"In the spirit of friendship, Japan has been a committed development partner of PNG across many areas, including education, health, infrastructure, energy, agriculture and disaster preparedness," Mochizuki said.
Police Minister Sir John Pundari welcomed the contribution, saying it came at a critical point for a force working to rebuild public trust while pushing through internal reforms around discipline and accountability.
He said the vehicles would be distributed to support provincial commands and frontline units, many of which have gone without reliable transport for extended periods.
The minister stressed that a lack of vehicles had long held back everyday policing work, from answering emergency calls to following through on investigations.
"A police service cannot meet public expectations if it lacks the means to move," Sir John said.
He closed with a direct appeal to officers receiving the vehicles to treat them as a public asset rather than personal property, warning that their value to communities would depend entirely on how well they were looked after.
"These vehicles have been provided for public purpose and must be maintained, protected and used only to support policing, public safety and service delivery," Sir John said.

headlines

• Two Parties Unite: PNG Party, Nesenel Unity Party Strike MoA for 2027
• PNG, Solomon Islands to deepen business ties as Marape heads to Honiara
• PNG Defence recruits to join Australian military by late 2027 – Marles
• BSP Plans New Headquarters in Port Moresby
  

Papua New Guinea's political scene has shifted with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement between the PNG Party and the Nesenel Unity Party, an alliance both sides say lays the groundwork for stronger, more accountable leadership as the country heads toward the 2027 National General Election.
The MoA was signed during the official launch of the Nesenel Unity Party, an occasion that saw PNG Party leader and Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Hon. Belden Namah, describe it as a first-of-its-kind agreement for his party.

"For me, this is the first time PNG Party is signing, not an MOU, but a Memorandum of Agreement with a political party. And not just another political party, but a new political party coming onto the horizon," Namah told the gathering.
He labelled the occasion "momentous, historical and significant," explaining that both parties stood on common ground through their shared God First principle.
"PNG Party policy number one is God First Policy. JOY means Jesus first, Others, and Yourself last. If every leader and bureaucrat practised this, this country would be more advanced than any other country in the world," Namah said.
Despite the nation's rich natural resources, Namah noted that poverty continued to weigh heavily on ordinary citizens, and said the new partnership would place strong emphasis on transparency, accountability and good governance.
"This relationship will provide strong leadership to this country, and together we will create economic growth and sustainability for our people and for future generations," he said.
He said the two parties were bound by a common vision of a nation that is God-fearing, prosperous and free, in line with the ideals set out by Papua New Guinea's founding fathers.
Nesenel Unity Party leader Hon. Richard Maru used the occasion to thank Namah and the PNG Party for throwing their support behind his newly launched party so early in the race to 2027.
"We are going to work side-by-side, hand-in-hand, and together we will select our candidates, strategise for the elections, and work together to be part of a new government," Maru said.
He said the partnership signalled the start of something new for the nation as it looks toward the next five decades.
"And we believe we will set the direction for a new beginning for our country, as we chart the next 50 years under our new vision and new core policies," Maru said.
He then turned his thanks directly to his new political partner: "To Hon. Balden Namah, our deepest gratitude that you have chosen to be the first party to join hands with the Nesenel Unity Party, as we chart the course together."
Maru made clear that his party's sights were set beyond simply contesting the polls.
"Our party is committed to work with like-minded party leaders, not just to win the elections and sit in the next parliament, but to be part of a group that will form the next government," he said.
He added that new policies were being crafted to help drive the country toward its Vision 2050 targets.
Bringing the event to a close, Namah reaffirmed the PNG Party's pledge to the new alliance.
"PNG Party, we are known as the reformers. We are the changer and fixer of the country, and we pledge to stand together with Nesenel Unity Party to craft a new pathway for our country and our people," he said.

headlines
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• PNG, Solomon Islands to deepen business ties as Marape heads to Honiara
• PNG Defence recruits to join Australian military by late 2027 – Marles
• BSP Plans New Headquarters in Port Moresby
• ICAC Must Remain Free From Political Direction, Says PNG PM Marape

Prime Minister James Marape departs for Honiara this week to headline the first-ever PNG-Solomon Islands Investment Conference, a two-day gathering he says will push the two Pacific neighbours beyond friendly diplomacy and into serious business partnerships.

Marape will share the platform with his Solomon Islands counterpart, Prime Minister Matthew Wale, who is set to officially open proceedings. The event, running over two days starting tomorrow, will draw together government officials, private sector investors, company executives, bankers and development partners from both nations.

Speaking ahead of his departure, Marape said the conference marked a turning point for a relationship that has long been built on history and culture but now needed to deliver economic results.

"This Conference is about taking the strong Relationship between Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands into its next important phase," he said. "We have longstanding historical, cultural and people-to-people ties. Our Governments enjoy very good relations."

He added that goodwill between the two countries now had to translate into tangible outcomes. "We must now use that foundation to generate greater economic opportunities for our people. We want to move from opportunity to actual investment, and from government-to-government cooperation into stronger business-to-business partnerships."

According to the Prime Minister, PNG's commercial footprint in the Solomons is far from new. A review spanning three decades shows 126 PNG-linked investments registered across 18 different sectors, ranging from agriculture and ICT to construction, fisheries, mining, insurance, tourism and financial services.

Those ventures have created job opportunities for more than 7,500 Solomon Islanders, with agriculture, professional services and fisheries emerging as the top employment generators. Marape noted that PNG's investment profile in the country has broadened considerably over time, moving beyond the large-scale mining, telecommunications and tourism projects of earlier decades into finance, retail, construction and small business ventures.

"PNG businesses have shown that they can successfully invest beyond our borders while creating employment and contributing to the economy of a neighbouring Pacific country," Marape said, thanking Honiara for its hospitality toward Papua New Guinean investors.

He said, however, that the flow of investment should not run in one direction only. "Solomon Islands businesses are equally welcome to explore opportunities in PNG."

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• PNG Defence recruits to join Australian military by late 2027 – Marles
• BSP Plans New Headquarters in Port Moresby
• ICAC Must Remain Free From Political Direction, Says PNG PM Marape
• PNG on grey-list after 2,000 financial crime warnings ignored, Juffa says
  

Papua New Guinean citizens could soon be wearing Australian Defence Force uniforms, with Canberra's top defence official confirming that recruitment under the Pukpuk Treaty is on track to begin in late 2027.

Australia's Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, Richard Marles, made the announcement following his first ministerial engagement with PNG Defence Minister Elias Kapavore on Sunday, August 16, where both leaders confirmed their shared commitment to getting the initiative off the ground within the next twelve months.

“We discussed this today, and we are both very committed to ensuring that, by this time next year (2027), recruitment is well and truly underway from PNG into the Australian Defence Force,” Marles told reporters. “We are looking at an initial pilot program which will start the process of proving the recruitment pathway.”

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, the scheme will begin modestly before expanding into a large-scale intake over the coming decade. “It will be smaller numbers to begin with, but in time we see this happening in scale over the next decade, where we are imagining thousands of people, thousands of Papua New Guineans, are recruited into the Australian Defence Force,” he said.
Marles described the initiative as a flagship undertaking of the bilateral defence pact. “So we're really excited about taking the first substantive steps down this path, and we are very confident that, by this time next year, this will be well underway,” he said, adding that it stood as the priority project under the treaty framework. “First among that is the project that we're working on to recruit Papua New Guineans into the Australian Defence Force.”
Sunday's discussion was held under Article 9 of the Pukpuk Treaty, which requires both governments to hold regular, obligatory talks on defence cooperation and the treaty's broader implementation. Canberra has committed funding for the recruitment project over the next two years, with a dedicated ministerial forum expected to convene later this year to map out the specific steps involved.
Beyond recruitment, the two ministers used the meeting to review challenges facing the PNG Defence Force and take stock of overall progress under the treaty, including efforts to bolster PNG's defence infrastructure and aviation capacity.
“We're also looking at a range of other issues – Infrastructure – we spoke about aviation today, and where there's been a lot of cooperation around looking at a range of implementation arrangements which will make it much easier for our defence forces to operate in each other's countries,” Marles said.
Oversight of the treaty's rollout now rests with a dedicated taskforce reporting directly to both defence ministers. “All of that work is progressing under the leadership of the taskforce, which is reported to the two of us,” Marles said. “We are seeing our defence forces increasingly bringing the problem more closely together.”
He also pointed to ongoing activity in Lae, including Exercise Puk Puk, which has drawn more than 20 PNG Defence Force personnel and reflects Australia's broader push to strengthen its neighbour's military capability.
Kapavore, for his part, thanked Australia for its continued support in building up the PNG Defence Force.

headlines

• BSP Plans New Headquarters in Port Moresby
• ICAC Must Remain Free From Political Direction, Says PNG PM Marape
• PNG on grey-list after 2,000 financial crime warnings ignored, Juffa says
• PNG needs heart specialists in regional hospitals, says paediatrician
  

BSP said the campus would also cater for major conferences, employee training and community activities, including its financial literacy and small business development initiatives.

Staff facilities are expected to include secure parking, a cafeteria and wellness services, with plans for a medical centre, gymnasium, changing rooms, showers and lockers.

BSP Group chief executive officer Mark Robinson said the project was intended to position the bank for the future.

“Our plan for developing a new headquarters is about building for the future. It will provide a modern, efficient and resilient workplace that supports our people, our customers and our long-term growth ambitions,” he said.

Robinson said the building would be developed to high environmental standards and incorporate technology to provide a digital-first experience for both staff and customers.

He said bringing employees together at one site would also improve efficiency while helping BSP attract, develop and retain skilled workers.

As part of the property strategy, BSP will review some of its existing assets in Port Moresby, beginning with the proposed sale and leaseback of its Waigani Head Office.

The bank is expected to advertise this week for expressions of interest from parties interested in the Waigani property.

BSP said the new campus remains at an early planning stage, with concept design and feasibility work scheduled to begin by the end of 2026. This will include assessing potential sites and engaging relevant regulators over planning and approval requirements.

“Our plan for developing a new headquarters is about building for the future. It will provide a modern, efficient and resilient workplace that supports our people, our customers and our long-term growth ambitions,” said Robinson.

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