Prime Minister Hon. James Marape officially opened the new Level 4 Pomio district hospital on Friday, 6 November 2026, at Palmalmal Station in East New Britain Province.
The newly constructed facility, officially named the Dr. Kaven Memorial Hospital, is a 40-bed capacity hospital designed to bring critical healthcare to one of the nation’s most isolated areas.
Pomio is the largest district in East New Britain, defined by mountains, thick rainforests, and a long, isolated coastline with little roads, electricity and network coverage. Accessing healthcare at provincial capital, Kokopo, has always been difficult and costly for the people of Pomio, meaning that the facility now allows them access to quality healthcare right in their own district.
The hospital directly advances Pangu Pati’s core policy platform, which focuses on delivering strategic, life-changing infrastructure—including healthcare networks, transport links, and rural schools—across Papua New Guinea.
Built at an approximate cost of K60 million with support from the Asian Development Bank and the Australian Government, the new facility operates with an initial workforce of 80 recruited personnel. To retain medical staff in the remote district, the infrastructure development includes more than 30 dedicated healthcare worker houses.
A biomedical team from the National Department of Health and Rabaul Provincial Hospital installed over 600 pieces of medical equipment across the facility’s new wings. The specialized infrastructure features a fully-equipped operating theatre, a radiology laboratory, a pathology laboratory, a dental unit, a pharmacy, a surgical ward, and a maternity ward equipped for obstetrics and gynaecology services.
Speaking to the media prior to cutting the ribbon, Prime Minister Marape characterized the hospital as a national asset and a model for rural development.
“Every district in our country must have a fully equipped, modern rural hospital that brings vital medical services directly to our people where they need them most,” PM Marape said. “This facility is symbolic of what the national government intends to do in delivering health services to our districts.”
The Prime Minister emphasized that the project aligns directly with his government’s broader healthcare accessibility targets.
“When we launched our current health plan, we committed to ensuring that critical health services are within a one-hour reach of all citizens,” he said. “Whether that journey requires one hour of walking, or traveling by boat, car, or plane; we are determined to close the gap. In every district, we want facilities of this exact standard.”
Prime Minister Marape commended the Pomio District administration and local Member of Parliament, Hon. Elias Kapavore, for their leadership, noting that their coordination also served as an operational model for other leaders to follow in bringing essential services to districts.
“This achievement stands as proof that when we align our efforts and pull together, we can overcome geographic challenges to deliver for our people,” PM Marape said. “Seeing this Level 4 hospital fully operational warms my heart. We will replicate this standard right throughout Papua New Guinea.”
The Prime Minister thanked the Government of Australia and the Asian Development Bank for their support, and acknowledged the Governor of East New Britain Province, Hon. Michael Marum, for his involvement in the project.
The hospital is now fully open to the public, with emergency, outpatient, and general clinical services immediately available to local residents.