Malabag commends government for allocating K1.3bil to health sector

By MOUA OMOA
HEALTH Minister Michael Malabag has commended the O’Neill government for fulfilling its free health care plan under the Alotau Accord by allocating K1.344 billion for the health sector in the 2013 Budget.
Malabag told Parliament yesterday the department needed K1.14 billion to revamp the country’s health system but the government allocated additional funding which would be used in other priority areas, including salaries and rehabilitation work.
“The department is finalising relevant policies on the free health care plan, which should be announced before the year ends, and they are working to amend the Public Hospitals Charges Act,” he said.
“On behalf of mothers and children, I thank the government and stand proud under a responsible O’Neill government because now they can receive basic health care and medicine without having to worry about paying fees.”
He urged the government to ensure that the procurement process at the tenders board was managed in a timely manner and the Pharmaceutical Act be amended so that the health department could become the distributor of medicines in the country.
Malabag thanked the government for provi­ding funding for new hospitals in Jiwaka and Hela and assured Central Governor Kila Haoda a health centre would be set up in his province.
He said he was pleased with the funding for Eastern Highlands, Western Highlands and Milne Bay to improve the administration and rehabilitation of health centres.
Malabag said with the extra funding from the budget he would work with the seven health unions to fulfil outstanding payments of MoU, including salaries for health extension and allied officers.