Of the more than 350 men on the island who've been found to be refugees, 50 have agreed to move to the Australian-funded East Lorengau transfer centre, where they receive around $AUD 50 a week for expenses.
It is hoped they will eventually assimilate into Papua New Guinea's general population.
But some of the men say they've been informed they will no longer be receiving free medical care and medication.
The head of Doctors for Refugees, Sydney G-P Dr Barri Phatarfod (fat-tah-fod) has told SBS it's an appalling situation.
"We have a safety net in Australia that enables people to buy their medications when they're living on the poverty line - that doesn't exist there in Papua New Guinea. They're in a situation where they have to make a choice: whether to take medications or whether to go without food."
