PNG Doctors Rule Out Overseas Transfer for Conjoined Twins

PNG Doctors Rule Out Overseas Transfer for Conjoined Twins

​Medical specialists at Port Moresby General Hospital (PMGH) in Papua New Guinea have ruled out sending the critically ill conjoined twins from Lae to Australia, citing significant medical risks.

At a media briefing, PMGH Chief Executive Officer Dr. Paki Molumi and Director of Medical Services Dr. Kone Sobi said while PNG welcomes global support, transferring the newborns now could be life-threatening.
“We are happy to support any organisation willing to take this case abroad, but clinically, referral at this stage is too risky,” Dr. Molumi said. “The twins have been in neonatal care for nearly a month, and right now, it is not suitable to move them.”

The twins are joined at the lower abdomen and share multiple vital organs, including the liver, bladder and gastrointestinal structures. One baby also has severe heart defects, lung under-development and a single kidney, making surgical separation extremely complex.

Paediatrician Dr. Gamini Vali said the babies remain stable and are being fed through tubes while receiving treatment for infections and oxygen support as needed.

Dr. Sobi acknowledged the emotional struggle for the parents and stressed that the hospital must balance compassion with clinical reality.

The twins were airlifted from Angau Hospital on October 15 after being born at Braun Hospital in Finschhafen, Morobe Province.

“We must put patient safety first — and moving them now could cost a life,” Dr. Sobi said.

Headlines today

• PNG to Host APEC Leaders’ Summit Again in 2033
• Economist: Papua New Guinea’s 2024 Census Missed Key Demographic Insights
• Enga Health CEO Dismisses Fake AI-Generated Hospital Notice
• PNG to Implement Biometric Voting and Other Reforms Ahead of 2027 Election