The Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) is set to transform Arawa Hospital into a specialist referral hospital, enhancing the health infrastructure in Bougainville, a region of Papua New Guinea.

Through its department of health, the government has signed a contract with project management and urban planning company PLANPAC PNG for Arawa Hospital’s design phase.

ABG Health Minister Dennis Lokonai said: “As minister for health, I am proud to say that this project marks a significant advancement in health infrastructure development, a pillar of nation-building that must not be overlooked as we prepare for political independence.

“A functioning, well-resourced health system is not a luxury, but it is a foundation for a self-reliant, independent Bougainville.”

The envisioned specialist referral facility aims to enhance clinical outcomes in Bougainville, minimise the need for external medical referrals, retain medical specialists, and symbolise the region's readiness for statehood.

Lokonai added: “We are not just building a hospital, we are building the backbone of a nation’s health sovereignty.”

Lokonai has chosen PLANPAC PNG to ensure that the hospital's final design aligns with the requirements of local citizens.

The ABG's Department of Health is also progressing in other areas, such as developing community health posts for better remote region access, improving health worker training programmes, and securing consistent medical supplies. It is also transitioning Buka General Hospital to full ABG control.

The Bougainville Executive Council has allocated K50m ($12.1m) for the upgrade of the Arawa facility.

Opened in 2018, the hospital features surgical facilities, a labour ward, 24 additional beds, and a pharmacy, among other things.