Medical specialists in Papua New Guinea, 1989: the planned use of doctors and allied health workers.

In 1979 there were 260 doctors, including 60 fully-qualified specialists working in Papua New Guinea, but the results of a nationwide survey indicated that 420 doctors, including 105 specialists, would be required by 1988. This does not appear to be feasible given projected manpower and financial constraints. An alternative plan is being implemented which aims to provide 88 specialist doctors. Other features of the plan include: increasing the number of allied health workers trained by specialist doctors; increasing the number of specialists in general practice; distributing more equitably specialist manpower between base hospitals and provincial hospitals; and continuing to implement the localization policy.