Malabag set to revamp health care for all

 

By NEVILLE TOGAREWA

HEALTH Minister Michael Malabag has moved quickly by initiating important administrative and legislative reform initiatives for the government to deliver quality and effective medical and primary health care services throughout the country.
This is consistent with the O’Neill-Dion government’s commitment to the people to make health care as one of its pillar development agendas for the next five years to 2017.
Mr Malabag, who is also responsible for HIV/AIDS, met with Prime Minister Peter O’Neill on Thursday and gave a detailed brief and update on the department of Health and the current health situation affecting the country.
The Minister’s brief included medical supplies; reasons for supply shortages; fake drugs being brought in and sold on the streets; free health care; salaries for church health workers; TB and World Vision; lack of professional doctors, nursing and technical manpower in hospitals and health facilities; and reasons for the delays in implementing the National Health Plan.
The initiatives include the following:
nThe department of Health with the help of AusAID is undertaking major reforms to improve procurement and management of medical supplies in the country.
nThe department has appointed provincial pharmacy inspectors under the Medicines and Cosmetics Act to inspect pharmacies and supermarkets and inspect pharmacies and supermarkets and prosecute offenders for selling fake drugs in their shops and on the streets.
nThe department will soon procure a High Performance Liquid Chromatography to test fake or suspect drugs in the country.
nMinister Mabalag will soon present a Cabinet submission recommending amendments to section 42 of the Organic Law on Provincial and Local Level Governments to stop hospitals and health centres from charging fees for services.
nIn consultation with the Churches Medical Council, Mr Malabag will present a Cabinet submission seeking to bring the salaries of church health workers on par with government health workers.
nSubject to Global Fund commitment with World Vision International, the Health department has proposed that the government appropriate K20 million in the 2013 budget for the TB program in the country.
nMinister Malabag will present a submission to the National Executive Council on the department’s human resource plan to recruit more professionals like doctors, nurses and technical personnel because of the acute shortage of staff in all hospitals and health facilities.
nEight overseas midwife nurse trainers have been recruited to take up teaching positions in nursing schools throughout the country.
nThe department has advertised and will recruit six professionals to senior management position by the end of this month to help the secretary implement major government policy reforms in a timely manner.
“I briefed the Prime Minister on health issues raised by the Post Courier over the past three days,” Mr Malabag told the Post Courier over the weekend.
“The second reason for my brief is to update the Prime Minister and the government on the progress the department of Health is making in implementing major government policy directions in the area of free primary health care, medical supplies and addressing disparities in terms and conditions of employment of church health workers and related matters,” he said.