Patients are being turned away from the main hospital in Papua New Guinea's Southern Highlands province due to a shortage of basic medicines.
The situation at the hospital in the provincial capital Mendi echoes shortages being felt at a number of hospitals throughout PNG.
Our correspondent Melvin Levongo said staff from Mendi hospital have made public announcements that the hospital is effectively closing down operations
According to him, the hospital said due to limited drugs and basic supplies, it can only take in patients for emergency cases.
"But at the moment there's not enough supplies there, so patients are advised to go the other side, the small hospital at Kumin where the Catholic Church runs its services. So most patients are going there. Some are referred to Mt Hagen."