PNG Medical Students Return to Rural Clinical Training in Aitape

Medical students from the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) and Divine Word University (DWU) have begun rural clinical placements with Catholic Church Health Services (CCHS) in Aitape, giving them direct exposure to the realities of healthcare delivery outside major centres in PNG.

The placement has brought back a programme that previously operated between 2014 and 2017 at the former Raihu Health Centre. CCHS Aitape is now rebuilding the partnership to give students practical experience while working alongside health professionals and communities in rural areas.

Medical Superintendent of the newly accredited St Francis Catholic District Hospital, Dr Michael Siune, said the programme would expose students to more than hospital-based medicine.

“The students are not only based at St. Francis Hospital, but they are also scheduled to visit lower levels of healthcare services,” Dr Siune said.

Through the placement, students are able to apply classroom learning to real clinical situations while seeing first-hand the difficulties encountered by patients and health workers in remote locations.

The programme has also been broadened this year with the inclusion of DWU medical students, alongside those from UPNG. CCHS said the growing university partnership supports efforts by the church, universities and Government to strengthen PNG’s future health workforce.

The organisation views rural medical education as part of its wider mission of service, rooted in the Catholic Church’s long history of providing healthcare to communities with limited access to medical services.

Missionaries played an important role in establishing many rural health facilities throughout PNG, taking healthcare to isolated communities and continuing what CCHS describes as a healing ministry.

Dr Siune said medical students should understand that their future work would involve more than treating patients.

“For future doctors, recognizing that being a health worker is a noble profession and a calling to serve vulnerable and marginalized populations, especially in rural areas, is crucial.”

He said spending time in remote communities would help students better understand the social, geographical and economic barriers that can prevent people from accessing healthcare.

CCHS Aitape hopes the rural placement will become an annual opportunity for students from UPNG and DWU, while encouraging other health workers and students to undertake similar placements at its facilities.

The service believes exposure to rural practice will help produce doctors and other health professionals who are not only clinically capable, but prepared to serve communities across PNG, including those living far from major hospitals.