Health Dept needs restructure

THE National Health Plan is worth K10 billion in its 10-year life span.
Past plans showed that some areas received more funding than others, resulting in discrepancies and affecting the distribution in the delivery of health services around the country.
Have we achieved 100 per cent of what is contained in each National Health Plan?
For this new 2021-30 plan, what is the predicted percentage outcome that will tell us of the achievable set target?
Have we even set a target for this new plan?
The outcomes of the past plans should guide the latest one.
Integration of each level of care – from level 1 to level 6 – is important.
The integration of the provincial health authority and district development authority in the health service is also necessary so that no one is left behind or works in isolation and/or underfunded.
Tertiary health institutions should also be part of this integration.
The 10-year National Health Plan is a very credible achievement for the Government and Department of Health.
To achieve the outcomes in the plan will be dictated by a very good National Health Department Structure.
The current structure and the proposed re-structure will not fully implement what is contained in the new National Health Plan.
K10 billion for 10 years means K1 billion each year.
It is a big slice in the National Budget and respect to this funding will be reflected in the National Department of Health structure.
The health structure will give life to this new National Health Plan.
The Department of Health needs to restructure itself in a way that the department has four deputy secretaries that will ensure and assist the “seeing through” of this new National Health Plan.
Past plan results and outcomes are enabling us to ensure this happens, and it is the right direction.
The Health Department has the case example to restructure itself in this new outlook.

Dr. James Naipao
National President
National Doctors Association