Australasian anaesthetists have donated 93 simple oxygen monitors to hospitals throughout Papua New Guinea.
The monitors, known as pulse oximeters, were donated by the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists during the PNG Medical Symposium, and will be distributed to 40 hospitals around the country.
The oximeters cost about 250 US dollars each.
The chairman of the College's Overseas Aid Committee, Sydney anaesthetist Dr Michael Cooper, says there is actually a need for 300 of the oximeters for operating theatres and recovery areas throughout the country.
Pulse oximeters are also a key component of the World Health Organization's Surgical Safety Checklist, which aims to improve compliance with standards and reduce complications from surgery.
