All at health ministry chip in to save
The health ministry is pulling out all the stops to ensure that budget cuts don't compromise patient care and social services.
Health minister Bernhard Haufiku has sacrificed his big office for a smaller one to make room for more staff at ministry headquarters as part of sweeping cost-cutting measures that won't affect patient care.
“Even the minister has vacated his office and moved to a smaller office, so that his bigger office can be subdivided and converted into an open-plan office to accommodate at least four staff members,” deputy permanent secretary Petronella Masabane told Namibian Sun.
The office swap forms part of stringent and wide-ranging measures to ensure that patient care is not compromised by budget cuts, Masabane said.
A number of savings measures have been instituted at the ministry this year, including scaling down purchases and new hires that do not have a direct impact on patient care and social welfare services.
The ministry was allocated a budget of N$6.51 billion this year, of which its N$3.29 billion wage bill makes up more than half.
Masabane said although government austerity measures have forced staff to make do with fewer benefits, there is a silver lining.
“We are growing into a culture of 'no waste and leakage' and applying the principle of asking whether spending this amount of money will save a life and improve the well-being of our people? So if not, then spend not.”
Masabane said most staff have “accepted and embraced the inconveniences”.
She commended the “excellent cooperation that we receive from most of our staff. Ministry of health and social services staff from all levels have come up with suggestions to save costs and to ensure that whatever resources the ministry has, go to patient care and to ensure the well-being of those we serve.”
Heavy pruning
Among the approaches, is the directive that only essential staff are authorised to travel, in the case of emergencies such as disease outbreaks, including yellow fever, malaria and anthrax.
Apart from that, all national and international travel is banned, except when trips are fully sponsored, including accommodation, meals and travel costs.
Even then, many staff members waive the miscellaneous expense S&T they are entitled to on sponsored trips, she said.
“The permanent secretary and management have also not claimed kilometre tariffs when using their private vehicles for official duties, for trips exceeding the 500-kilometre threshold.”
A strict fleet management system monitors vehicle movements.
A moratorium on hiring venues for workshops, training and meetings has also been implemented, including the provision of meals and refreshments.
Critical regional and management meetings have been reduced to one annual meeting.
The adoption of electronic platforms like video-conferencing and WhatsApp groups to troubleshoot, train or generally communicate has significantly reduced S&T claims and travel expenses.
Saving on the renting of office space, a move that motivated the minister to give up his office, is another priority.
“Contractual obligations such as rental of offices were honoured until expiry dates and not renewed. We are now in the process of issuing notices of termination of running lease agreements. Staff members will be relocated to the ministry's office building and share available space.”
In addition, the zero budgets for office furniture, and the printing of promotional materials, are just “a few examples and we keep on identifying and addressing waste, leakages and cutting on cost measures.”
Staff members have been instructed to use radio or other media platforms, as well as meetings and events that don't have cost implications to reach out to communities with health and social messages.
In a media statement last week, the health ministry warned that a notice in connection with medical interns making the rounds on social media was not authentic, but added that the ministry is considering further cost-cutting measures in addition to those already in place.
No changes to the remuneration and employment benefits of interns and other staff have been agreed upon, it said.
JANA-MARI SMITH
“Even the minister has vacated his office and moved to a smaller office, so that his bigger office can be subdivided and converted into an open-plan office to accommodate at least four staff members,” deputy permanent secretary Petronella Masabane told Namibian Sun.
The office swap forms part of stringent and wide-ranging measures to ensure that patient care is not compromised by budget cuts, Masabane said.
A number of savings measures have been instituted at the ministry this year, including scaling down purchases and new hires that do not have a direct impact on patient care and social welfare services.
The ministry was allocated a budget of N$6.51 billion this year, of which its N$3.29 billion wage bill makes up more than half.
Masabane said although government austerity measures have forced staff to make do with fewer benefits, there is a silver lining.
“We are growing into a culture of 'no waste and leakage' and applying the principle of asking whether spending this amount of money will save a life and improve the well-being of our people? So if not, then spend not.”
Masabane said most staff have “accepted and embraced the inconveniences”.
She commended the “excellent cooperation that we receive from most of our staff. Ministry of health and social services staff from all levels have come up with suggestions to save costs and to ensure that whatever resources the ministry has, go to patient care and to ensure the well-being of those we serve.”
Heavy pruning
Among the approaches, is the directive that only essential staff are authorised to travel, in the case of emergencies such as disease outbreaks, including yellow fever, malaria and anthrax.
Apart from that, all national and international travel is banned, except when trips are fully sponsored, including accommodation, meals and travel costs.
Even then, many staff members waive the miscellaneous expense S&T they are entitled to on sponsored trips, she said.
“The permanent secretary and management have also not claimed kilometre tariffs when using their private vehicles for official duties, for trips exceeding the 500-kilometre threshold.”
A strict fleet management system monitors vehicle movements.
A moratorium on hiring venues for workshops, training and meetings has also been implemented, including the provision of meals and refreshments.
Critical regional and management meetings have been reduced to one annual meeting.
The adoption of electronic platforms like video-conferencing and WhatsApp groups to troubleshoot, train or generally communicate has significantly reduced S&T claims and travel expenses.
Saving on the renting of office space, a move that motivated the minister to give up his office, is another priority.
“Contractual obligations such as rental of offices were honoured until expiry dates and not renewed. We are now in the process of issuing notices of termination of running lease agreements. Staff members will be relocated to the ministry's office building and share available space.”
In addition, the zero budgets for office furniture, and the printing of promotional materials, are just “a few examples and we keep on identifying and addressing waste, leakages and cutting on cost measures.”
Staff members have been instructed to use radio or other media platforms, as well as meetings and events that don't have cost implications to reach out to communities with health and social messages.
In a media statement last week, the health ministry warned that a notice in connection with medical interns making the rounds on social media was not authentic, but added that the ministry is considering further cost-cutting measures in addition to those already in place.
No changes to the remuneration and employment benefits of interns and other staff have been agreed upon, it said.
JANA-MARI SMITH
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article