PNG patients still seek treatment in Torres Strait: doctor On August 10, 2011

An Australian doctor says PNG nationals needing treatment for
tuberculosis will still flock to the Torres Strait for medical
attention, even after the Australian Government funds health services in
PNG through AusAid.

It is just a matter of months until the Australian Government provides access to appropriate treatment in PNG.

But
Cairns-based respiratory specialist, Dr Graham Simpson, has told
Pacific Beat that won't stop the influx of those heading to the Torres
Strait in search of medical treatment.

"Transport difficulties in the western province are huge," he said.

"These
are very poor villages [and] getting to Daru Island is at least a four
or, in some cases, an eight-hour journey by boat and 100 litres of fuel.

"Even
if there is fuel they can't remotely afford it so they just can't get
to Daru and Daru can't really get to them. So it's a lot easier to nip
in a canoe and come over to one of the outer islands."