Health Dept to restructure top management

THERE will be a restructuring of the Health Department top management next week to help rectify and better manage medicine stocks and supply this year.
Minister for Health, HIV/AIDS Sir Puka Temu said changes would come from a series of coordinated actions across the system and one of those changes would be the restructuring of the top management to address staff capacity issues.
Sir Puka said the restructure would recommend the immediate relocation or reassignment of staff within the branch to improve procurement activities.
He made the statement after The National raised questions on whether there would be any improvement in the continuous medicine shortages that the country faced last year.
“A procurement plan is also in the process of being developed.”
“This plan will take into consideration the review agenda and develop a three-year rolling procurement plan that is aligned with budget projections, including the release of tenders and contracts to avoid emergency procurement.”
“The reform agenda is vital if changes are to be seen in the medical supply procurement and distribution space.
“To successfully manage the procurement, supply and distribution of drugs and medical supplies across the country, it must have the full support of both the other government sectors and agencies as some of the levers to see change are outside of the control of NDOH.”
Sir Puka said changes would also include the Review of the medical and dental catalogue with recategorisation of items to guide procurement and better sourced data for quantification of actual medical supply requirements.
“Data is being better sourced and analysed from the medical supply issuance voucher order forms received directly from facilities,” he said.
Sir Puka also said that they would be implementing strategies to manage theft and Closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras were being installed at Area Medical Stores (AMS) Badilli and Lae to address theft.
“Cameras will also be installed in other Area Medical Stores as cameras are providing a significant deterrent and the theft of medicine supplies can be monitored and consequences assigned,” he said.
Sir Puka said that the department key priority this year was to establish a consistent and sustainable drug supply.