Clinical Support Program

Since 1998, RACS has worked with the Papua New Guinea (PNG) Governments’ National Department of Health. The Clinical Support Program (CSP) was established in 2018 and works with the ANGAU Memorial Hospital in Lae and the Port Moresby General Hospital (PMGH) to provide clinical training, mentoring and support and contribute to the enhanced quality of tertiary care in PNG. The CSP supports the redevelopment of ANGAU Memorial Hospital and provides support to the School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS) at the University of PNG (UPNG), and PMGH.  

The Program works closely with the two hospital executives and management to ensure that national and hospital health system priorities shape and guide.  RACS also works in collaboration with pro bono clinicians from a range of Australasian medical colleges and organisations so that the program can offer multidisciplinary, high quality, clinical support and technical expertise to local hospitals, academic institutions and other program partners.

The CSP leverages the ANGAU Hospital redevelopment, with 70 percent of program activities and associated budget allocated to this hospital: a significant catalyst for clinical services improvement.  Port Moresby General Hospital and the School of Medicine and Health Sciences at the University of PNG are significant partner institutions that support and determine the activities of the CSP. These two partner institutions are crucial to the development of a quality clinical services workforce for the whole country.

• Increased overall organisational effectiveness and accountability in ANGAU Memorial Hospital, fully utilising its redevelopment, and in PMGH and SMHS
• Increased specialty and subspecialty skills and competencies in ANGAU Memorial Hospital, fully utilising its redevelopment, and in PMGH and SMHS.
• Increased competencies in cross-cutting clinical best practice in ANGAU Hospital, fully utilising its redevelopment, and in PMGH and SMHS
• Increased primary health care skills and competencies in relevant urban health centres in Lae, to support fully utilising ANGAU Hospital re-development.
• Men and women equally utilising improved leadership and clinical skills within ANGAU Hospital, fully utilising its redevelopment, and within PMGH and SMHS.

Some of the key program activities and outputs:

The CSP supports the training of PNG health professionals and development of a cohort of trainers, through localised training and systems-development opportunities including:

• Visiting Medical Teams (VMTs) supporting on-the-job training and mentoring through conducting clinical activities, consultations, and operations
• On-the-job training and education including mentoring, the conduct of lectures and supervised practice
• Continuing professional development (CPD) including the conduct of short courses, conferences, and provision of practical experience for local trainees
• Program management activities including program monitoring and evaluation, reporting and communications, budget management, quality assurance, and risk management

Supported by:

The Australian Government through the PNGAus Partnership

In partnership with: 

• PNG National Department of Health
• ANGAU Memorial Hospital, Lae
• Port Moresby General Hospital (PNGH)
• University of PNG, School of Medicine and Health Sciences
• JID
• APLS Australia
• Australian College of Emergency Medicine (ACEM)
• Australian College of Perioperative Nurses (ACORN)
• Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA)
• Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society (ANZICS)
• Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG)