Governor-General Grand Chief Sir Bob Dadae has challenged medical students from Morobe Province to return to their communities after graduation and help address the shortage of doctors and health professionals in rural Papua New Guinea.

Speaking at the Morobe Medical Students’ closing program in Port Moresby on Saturday, October 17, Sir Bob said aspiring doctors had an important role to play in strengthening the country’s health system and improving access to healthcare.

Addressing students from the University of Medicine and Health Sciences, he said their medical training was a valuable opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of people, particularly those in remote villages and districts.

Sir Bob shared his personal experience of once aspiring to become a doctor after finishing high school in the 1980s but abandoning the dream after fainting at the sight of blood.

He said his childhood desire to serve the people of Kabwum was driven by the lack of doctors and health workers in his remote community.

The Governor-General urged the students to be guided by compassion, care and respect for humanity, saying their conduct and professionalism could influence patients’ recovery and, in some cases, mean the difference between life and death.

He acknowledged that better salaries and benefits overseas could attract medical graduates away from Papua New Guinea but encouraged them to consider the needs of their own people before seeking opportunities abroad.

Sir Bob also called for more rural hospitals, improved access to medical supplies and equipment, and increased numbers of locally trained doctors serving communities outside major towns and cities.

He challenged the students to become future leaders in transforming the health system by addressing the challenges facing provincial and rural healthcare services.

Sir Bob said returning to serve their villages and districts would allow the students to leave a lasting legacy for future generations.

He expressed confidence that Morobe’s aspiring medical professionals would contribute meaningfully to building a stronger health system and a healthier Papua New Guinea.