MoH undergoes transformation
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Tuesday February 16, 2016 15:16
Ministries were given tasks on how they could revamp their functions in terms of service delivery.
“It is true the ministry will introduce an organisational transformation. But I cannot share details on the matter because we have to consult our employees first. The transformation will effect in April. It should be clear that no one is going to lose their job but a lot of things are going to change in order for us as a ministry to improve service delivery,” disclosed Assistant Minister of Health Alfred Madigele.
Based on the new arrangement research specialists will be moved to districts to enable quick response.
“Even the medical doctors will no longer be in the head office. They will now be based in the districts because that is where there is a lot of work. They will be doing walkabouts in clinics, primary hospitals and hospitals twice in a week.
This will help the ministry to know the challenges or any outbreak of a disease earlier. The head office will have only one medical doctor and a specialist,” a source said.
The specialists will also visit districts regularly because the ministry spends a lot of money on diseases that could be prevented.
The ministry will now start educational tours district by district educating the public on cancer and high blood pressure because of their high prevalence.
As part of the transformation, headquarters will procure medicines unlike in the past when the task was executed by the Central Medical Stores (CMS).
“This will avoid a situation where CMS has to stock pile medicines which are not used. We want to avoid a situation where CMS gets stuck with expired medicines.
The ministry wants to cut costs in certain areas. We want to focus on areas where we have shortages, for example, to employ nurses and increase our transport,” it says.
A manager will be employed to oversee all contractors that are outsourced by the ministry as a way of strengthening those areas.
The manager will be able to supervise a contractor that has won cleaning, catering, provision security services, amongst others.