Ok Tedi Mining Limited (Ok Tedi) has established a kidney dialysis facility in Tabubil to service its employees and the community, marking a significant step in the fight against kidney failure.
Kidney failure is one of the critical health challenges facing the region and the rest of PNG. Delivered in close partnership with the PNG Kidney Foundation, the facility is only the third kidney dialysis centre in PNG, alongside facilities in Port Moresby and Mendi.
The investment was driven by alarming health data from Tabubil Hospital, where kidney failure was identified as the second highest cause of death in 2023. Ok Tedi’s health service currently provides care to approximately 6,000 patients each month, with 80 percent of those patients being local residents, highlighting the facility’s importance not only to the company’s workforce but also to the wider community.
Ok Tedi Manager Health Services, Raymond Singamis, said the new dialysis infrastructure was a direct response to the growing burden of kidney disease.
“Our 2023–2024 mortality and morbidity report clearly showed that kidney failure had become one of the leading causes of death within our health service population. This is a serious public health warning that demanded immediate action,” Mr Singamis said.
“With more than 6,000 patients accessing our services every month, the majority of whom are local people, the Ok Tedi-funded dialysis facility will significantly strengthen our ability to provide life-saving treatment for our workforce, business partners, and the people of Western Province,” he said.
Ok Tedi Board Director Bonny Ninai said the dialysis facility represents a critical step forward in improving access to specialised healthcare in a remote region.
“While dialysis is not a permanent cure, it provides patients with severe kidney disease the opportunity to extend their lives and improve their quality of life while awaiting potential transplant options. This is about giving people hope where options were previously limited,” Mr Ninai said.
National Health Board Chairman Chief Professor Doctor Mathias Sapuri praised Ok Tedi for taking leadership in health infrastructure investment.
“I am very proud of Ok Tedi for investing in a facility that directly supports a healthier workforce and stronger communities,” Professor Sapuri said.
“This initiative demonstrates how responsible corporate investment can complement national health priorities and deliver meaningful outcomes for the people.”
The opening of the Tabubil kidney dialysis facility reflects Ok Tedi’s continued commitment to improving healthcare access and outcomes in Western Province, reinforcing its role as a 100% PNG-owned company dedicated to serving the people of Western Province and Papua New Guinea.
