Health services are provided by both government and church providers (both of which are financed primarily from public sector funds); by enterprise-based services (e.g. the mines); by a small, modern private sector; and by traditional healers (undocumented amount).

Within the public sector, management responsibility for hospitals and rural health services within provinces is divided. The National Department of Health manages the 19 provincial hospitals, while provincial and local governments are responsible for all other services (health centres and subcentres, rural hospitals and aid posts), known collectively as “rural health services”.

In rural areas, Churches provide up to 80% of health services. Papua New Guinea trains most of its health workforce and the churches run five of the seven nursing schools and all of the community health worker training schools.
http://www.wpro.who.int/countries/2008/png/national_health_priorities.htm (accessed on 23.04.2009)