Port Moresby General Hospital Photo: POM General Hospital
Papua New Guinea's health minister, Lino Tom, says 43 doctors who contested the elections more than a year ago can now be re-employed by the provincial health authorities.
The doctors were among hundreds of public servants forced to resign their jobs before the election.
The government, in a legislative amendment made in 2020, decided they would not automatically be able return to their positions.
The law change meant that those public servants who stood in the elections would be required to wait up to five years before they re-applied for a public service, after being forced to resign six months before the vote.
Dr Tom has admitted the repercussions on the medical sector have been immense.
But he said these doctors, many of whom are medical specialists, are now free to take contract work with the Provincial Health Authorities.
"There are reasons why the government made those laws because when failed politicians come on board and use their position to, let me say, vent their frustrations on people who have not supported them," Dr Tom said.
"So the government made this law with the best of intentions, so to speak, but unfortunately it affected the sector which is facing a work force crisis."
Dr Tom said it is his personal view the law is unconstitutional.
He said organisations such as the National Doctors Association are best placed to challenge the legislation in court.
