ORO is among the top ten provinces in the country that will implement the Provincial Health Authority (PHA) Act beginning in 2015. A partnership agreement was signed at the National Health Department Office in Waigani on Wednesday (08/10/14) between Health Minister Michael Malabang and Oro Governor Gary Juffa witnessed by Secretary Pascoe Kase and other senior officials. Governor Juffa said he was pleased to work under this arrangement and thanked the health Minister and his department for making it all possible. “Oro has been a difficult place for health workers including the Popondetta General Hospital. Most of our rural people miss out on basic health services as there were two different parties working for the same cause. The provincial health services managing rural hospital and the national health department managing major hospitals. This is not going to be the case anymore as the new Act will see all health matters come under the Provincial Health Authority,” he said. He said the Oro Provincial Government has already allocated K250, 000 from a total of K500, 000 committed towards this cause. Because the country’s health systems were separated and not managed properly, it was made to look like as if the PNG health system was not functioning and outsiders were taking advantage of such weaknesses, Juffa said. Health Minister Michael Malabag said Oro and Western provinces represent the second phase of PHA Act 2007 to be implemented in the provinces. He said Western Highlands, Eastern Highlands, Milne Bay, Enga, West Sepik, Manus and West New Britain were the first to have implemented this legislative reform and is now working towards getting their operational frameworks in order. East Sepik and Southern Highlands would obtain their PHA status soon as they have signed their partnership agreement in May 2014. Oro is among NCD, Western, New Ireland and Hela which are to be implemented by March next year, he said. The partnership agreement allows for all health functions in the province to come under one umbrella. The agreement includes; Delegation of managerial and supervisory responsibilities over provincial health staff and district health staff to the CEO of the Provincial Health Authority by the Provincial Administrator. Appointment of departmental representative and local medical authority. Unified budget for all government health facilities, Transfer of assets for the use of the provincial health authority, Provincial and district implementation plans and monitoring and evaluation arrangements. Mr Malabag said under this arrangement, the CEO of the Health Authority will be recognized as a deemed departmental head for the purposes of exercising powers over personal matters under the public services management Act and financial matters under the public finances management Act. PHA implementation allows for unification of rural health and public hospitals management and delivery systems, he said.
Posted on: Thu, 09 Oct 2014 05:49:26 +0000
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