New auditing system for health sector

A NEW auditing system will be implemented for the workforce and infrastructure of the health sector in the country, Health Minister Dr Lino Tom says.
“It will serve as an accountability platform, it is quite difficult to provide basic health services without a proper mapping of our health facilities and population,” he said.
“Once the audit is complete, we would have mapped out all the health facilities around the country, the staff workers, the health services provided and many more.”
Tom said this during the Christian Health Services 53rd general assembly conference in Port Moresby yesterday.
“The health workforce audit is to identify the staff we have in the health system and then will identify those who will be phased out in the next five years. We have some health workers who are supposed to be working in rural areas providing healthcare services but are living in Port Moresby and getting paid,” he said.
“So with this new auditing system, we will be able to see which health worker is working in which location.
“It will also identify how many health staff the health institutions have produced in a year.”
Tom said that the infrastructure audit would be digitalised as it was part of their Information and Communication Technology policy in the Health Department.
“This digital platform will consist of electronic medical records, services provided at health facilities and will also act as a way of communication.”