Committee ready to tackle issues

The National National

By LULU MARK and BRIDGETTE TOPUP
DWU journalism student
MEMBERS of a newly established Special Parliamentary Committee on Health Matters are keen to ensure issues in the sector are highlighted and addressed, an official says.
Chairman and Pomio MP Elias Kapavore said the committee was set up to support the Health Minister Dr Lino Tom as the daunting task of overseeing and managing the country’s health sector could not be done by the Health Department alone.
Kapavore said over the years, the health sector was either at the top or second in terms of yearly budgetary allocations yet the people were suffering from the lack of quality and accessible healthcare services.
He said medical supply shortages, rundown health facilities in rural areas, non-performing provincial health authority (PHA) boards and a lack of oversight by the Health Department over PHAs were some of the concerns that needed to be addressed.
“The purpose of this first meeting is to have the members sworn in, get familiarised with the terms of reference and agree on the date and agendas for the next meeting,” he said. “The terms of reference of the committee are very specific.
“So we will come up with a timeframe and implementation plan to deliver these outcomes.
“The people’s health is important and we are starting the work now.
“The second committee meeting will be on Feb 1 where we expect to meet with the senior management of the Health Department.
“This is the first time since independence to have a special parliamentary committee on health matters.”
Kapavore commended the Government for recognising health as an important social sector and for establishing the committee.
The committee members include Talasea MP Freddy Kumai (deputy chairman), Alotau MP Ricky Morris, Central Bougainville MP Simon Dumarinu, Mul-Baiyer MP Jacob Maki and Moresby North West MP Lohia Boe Samuel and Kapavore as chairman.
They conducted their first meeting after they took their oaths and discussed the functions of the committee which include in brief but not limited to the:

  • SCRUTINY of the Health Department to ensure health legislation, policies and required standards are implemented;
  • CONDUCTING of reviews into the functionality of provincial health authorities (PHAs);
  • ENSURING compulsory requirements of the National Health Services Standards (NHSS) are followed, providing oversight and support for the construction of certain health facilities; and,
  • MONITORING the country’s efforts in meeting the targets of Goal No 3 ‘Health and Wellbeing’ as the country’s international obligation towards the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

They resolved to have their second meeting next month to discuss the structure of the PHA and National Health Plan among other agendas.