Wong urges proactive approaches

HEALTH and HIV/AIDS Minister Jelta Wong in his first circular to health facilities urged health administrators to be proactive to ensure people receive the best healthcare possible.
While thanking the efforts undertaken by respective professionals of the health sector of the newly-created provincial health boards, he emphasised that the provincial health authority (PHA) was part of the major reform agenda for the Government.
“It aims to unify a fragmented health service delivery system that exist in provinces between the hospital reporting directly to the health minister, Health Department and the rural health services managed through the provincial health office and reporting to the governors through the Provincial Administration Act or the National Health Administration Act, in instances where there are no provincial health legislations,” Wong said.
He said the PHA Act gave greater autonomy to the PHA boards to make strategic decisions that affected development and maintenance of healthcare and public health service delivery in provinces and NCD “you and your PHA boards are responsible for”.
“Given this level of autonomy of each PHA, I challenge all boards to be innovative while being strategic in exploring ways that can contribute to your provincial health performance indicators.
“I have been concerned about the general disintegration of strong leadership at all levels and particularly at health facility levels that led to a significant decline in routine community health extension programmes.”
Wong said that was a key programme that contributed significantly and provided the link to the majority if not all the 21 provincial health performance indicators that were measured by the department through the national health information system.