Niu Care Awareness

The Public Service Niucare Association Inc. or NIUCARE represents a significant step by the government of Papua New Guinea (GoPNG) towards ensuring the well-being of our public servants. This initiative, embraced with enthusiasm by the National Executive Council (NEC) following collaborative efforts led by the Minister for Public Service, aims to establish a robust social welfare system for our dedicated workforce.

FAS – Policy Compliance acknowledged the presence of Executive Director – Corporate Services, Mr. John Ame, the Niucare team, and all senior officers and staff of DoWH who were present at the time at TSB Conference room on February 18th,2025.

Ms. Florentina, from the marketing team of Niucare Association, gave a very informative presentation of the Niucare Policy Plan, outlining the process and how to go about signing up. She stated that the Niucare insurance is not compulsory anymore given the media outburst last year. It is now voluntary that interested government agencies can join. She explained, if a government department joins, all its employees will automatically join.

The Public Service Niucare Association Inc. (PSNA) is an organization established by the Papua New Guinea government to provide medical and funeral coverage for public servants. Approved by the National Executive Council, PSNA aims to enhance the welfare of over 130,000 public sector employees.

Key Features of the Niucare Plan:

• Medical Cover: Offers comprehensive medical insurance with no deductibles, ensuring peace of mind for members.
• Funeral Cover: Provides funeral indemnity payments within 48 hours, easing the financial burden on families during difficult times.
• Permanent Disability Benefits: Includes coverage for permanent disability, supporting members who are unable to work due to injury or illness.
• Welfare Development Fund: Access to a fund aimed at improving healthcare infrastructure and services across the country.

Eligibility and Contributions:

• Automatic Enrollment: All active public servants under 65 years of age are automatically enrolled in the Niucare Plan.
• Contribution Rates: A compulsory 2.7% deduction from the fortnightly salary of public servants is allocated to the Niucare Plan.

Recent Developments:

In January 2025, the government announced that the implementation of the Niucare healthcare policy would be postponed for reassessment. This decision followed public concerns and discussions regarding the scheme's legitimacy and effectiveness.

In closing, ED – Corporate Service, recommend young officers to join the Niucare insurance as it is important and thanked everyone that attended the very informative awareness.