Health Dept swears in new board

THE Health Department swore in its new board in Port Moresby last week.
During the ceremony last Thursday, Health secretary Dr Osborne Liko, who spoke on behalf of  the Minister Jelta Wong, said  the board was the highest governance board established by the Health Administration Act 1997.
He said the national health board advised the minister on matters relating to health, particularly the national plan, development, extension, amendment and replacement.
Dr Liko said board measures that were necessary to achieve the objectives of the health plan were responsible for  healthcare systems, including  the administration of any health legislation relating to health matters.
He said the board was also responsible for endorsing the health plan to approve the national health service standards.
Dr Liko said the board would also monitor the implementation of the national health plan.
“The challenge we have with that mandate is that the national health board has not been vital for the last 18 months,” he said.
“This means that some of the key functions of the national health board has diminished as a result, especially at the provincial health authority level.
“Applications of national health plan and national service standards have been very weak.
“There is no adequate advocacy of the national health plan.
“The standards and provincial leaders are breaching proper governance processes to maintain good governess to ensuring that processes and systems in setting up facilities are complied with,” Dr Liko said.
“So there has been a recent review of the health governance role, laws and important gaps that have been identified and would be addressed.”