Paradise Private Hospital signs MOU with Kind Cuts for Kids Australia

Paradise Private Hospital (PPH) and Kind Cuts for Kids (KCfK) Australia have signed a two-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen paediatric surgical services, clinical training and specialist capacity building in Papua New Guinea.

The MOU, signed on Friday, 18 September 2026, in Port Moresby, establishes a framework for collaboration between PPH and KCfK, with a shared focus on improving access to specialised paediatric surgical care that can be performed in-country, while supporting the development of local healthcare professionals through partnerships and surgical programs in PNG.

Under the partnership, KCfK will provide specialist paediatric surgical expertise and support agreed procedures, working alongside local medical teams through clinical mentoring, supervision, lectures, workshops and hands-on training.

The collaboration will also support the development of paediatric surgical protocols and best-practice guidelines, as well as ongoing professional advice through in-person or remote engagement where mutually agreed.

Dr Erica Opu, Director Medical Services, said the initiative had grown significantly since the first program in May 2026 and presented opportunities to expand specialist surgical support to other Provincial Health Authorities (PHAs).

“When we first started this initiative in May, we did not realise the impact it could have or how much it would grow. We are now seeing the value of this collaboration and the opportunities it can create for paediatric surgical services in PNG,” Dr Opu said.

She said the partnership was particularly timely following PNG’s 51st Independence celebrations, with children representing the future of the nation.

“Children are the future of this nation, and initiatives like this create opportunities for our children to grow up healthy and become the leaders of tomorrow,” she said.

Professor Paddy Dewan said resource limitations should not prevent healthcare professionals from finding effective ways to deliver quality care.

“Resource limitations do not mean you cannot do things well. They mean you have to develop ways of doing things that can be even better,” Professor Dewan said.

Professor Dewan said he was encouraged by the progress of paediatric surgical services in PNG and the potential for the country to develop a regional centre of excellence.

“PNG has a wealth of paediatric surgical talent that has been relatively unrecognised and untapped. With good leadership, PNG can become a regional centre of excellence,” he said.

He added that the collaboration between PPH, KCfK and PNG’s public health services was helping to advance the care of children with surgical conditions.

Week-long surgical program

Professor Dewan will perform paediatric surgeries at Paradise Private Hospital on Friday, 18 September, and Sunday, 20 September, before travelling to Mt Hagen on Monday to conduct surgeries at Western Highlands Provincial Hospital through Wednesday.

He returns to Port Moresby on Thursday before undertaking complex paediatric surgeries at Port Moresby General Hospital (PMGH) on Friday and Saturday.

The program reflects the broader focus of the PPH-KCfK partnership to bring specialised paediatric surgical services closer to children in PNG while strengthening the skills and experience of local medical teams.

“Paradise Private Hospital, working in collaboration with Kind Cuts for Kids and PNG public health services, is advancing the care of children with surgical disease in an unprecedented fashion,” Professor Dewan said.

The partnership places strong emphasis on knowledge transfer and strengthening local systems so that paediatric surgical services can continue to develop beyond individual specialist visits.

The MOU builds on KCfK’s longstanding specialist outreach work in Papua New Guinea and further strengthens Paradise Private Hospital’s commitment to improving access to specialised healthcare and supporting the development of local medical capacity.

As a proudly nationally owned hospital, PPH continues to work with local and international partners to strengthen healthcare services and contribute to better health outcomes for the people of Papua New Guinea.