NATIONAL Doctors Association president Dr James Naipao has welcomed a training scholarship programme in Taiwan for local health workers.
The programme was secured by Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister Richard Maru during a visit to Taiwan last month.
“The scholarships offered to health workers are timely and the Look-North policy is slowly becoming a reality,” he said.
Maru and a delegation visited Taiwan to look at investment opportunities and came across the health workers scholarship.
“The National Doctors Association is gearing up for a review of its award with the Department of Personnel Management and the Health Department,” Naipao said.
“The training will be made possible through the signing of a memorandum of understanding that the different parties concerned will agree on.”
Naipao said Papua New Guinea must look north because of the cheaper cost of training and the low value of the kina compared to the Australian dollar and other currencies.
“We have seen complications with visa applications where restrictions are placed on Papua New Guineans to pursue further studies in Australia,” he said.
“The Look-North policy is a great relief.
“The National Doctors Association looks forward to supporting the training once an agreement is signed between the two countries