PNG Health Minister admits to slow response to HIV-AIDS

Papua New Guinea's Health Minister admits the country is not moving quickly enough to stem the number of people contracting HIV-AIDS.

The Minister's comments came after the ABC's Four Corners program revealed boxes of anti-retroviral drugs were being stored in warehouses instead of being distributed to patients.

For transcript of ABC 4 Corners programme, click HERE

Around 100,000 people in Papua New Guinea have contracted HIV-AIDS.

According to Health Minister Sir Peter Barter, nearly all of them are being denied anti-retroviral viral therapy due to the lack of capacity by hospitals to dispense the medication.

"It's happening but it's not happening fast enough," he said.

"We have to be seen to be doing more than we have been doing about it."

Mr Barter says PNG is also too slow in opening STD clinics despite money being made available by AusAID to do so.