China boosts healthcare in PNG with specialized clinic

On Monday, the 14th China Medical Team to Papua New Guinea (PNG) launched a breast disease clinic at Port Moresby General Hospital in the nation's capital, Port Moresby.

It is the first standardized breast disease clinic in PNG and presents a new phase of healthcare cooperation focusing on precision treatment and public welfare between the two countries.

The general hospital is the largest in the Pacific island nation. PNG has long grappled with inadequate medical resources and expertise, resulting in delayed screenings, late diagnoses and insufficient treatment for breast cancer.

According to the World Health Organization, most breast cancer patients in PNG are diagnosed at advanced stages, with a five-year survival rate of less than 40 percent. The clinic aims to address this challenge.

"Many patients previously had to seek treatment overseas, but the high costs and complex procedures made this impossible for most families. The new clinic will provide timely and standardized care for local women within their communities," said Doctor Deng Yongchun, a breast surgery specialist from Chongqing University Cancer Hospital and a member of the 14th China Medical Team to PNG.

According to Deng, the newly established clinic integrates the functions of screening, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation. It is equipped with advanced donated devices from China, such as digital breast ultrasound machines and needle biopsy equipment.

Through a model combining theoretical training with surgical mentorship, the team has trained PNG's first four specialized breast healthcare professionals and introduced tiered diagnosis and treatment guidelines tailored to the local conditions.

In June of last year, the Chongqing University Cancer Hospital launched an international training program on breast cancer prevention and treatment technology. Twenty students from the South Pacific region honed their professional skills through theoretical studies and practical exercises during the program.

According to the Port Moresby General Hospital, Chinese medical teams have treated over 100,000 patients at the hospital over the past two decades. Recently, they've brought their expertise in more classified fields to PNG, injecting fresh hope for universal health coverage.

To establish a sustainable healthcare model, the China Medical Team plans to collaborate with the hospital to develop a breast disease database and telemedicine platform, as well as leverage high-quality medical resources from Chongqing to ensure continuous technical support.