Big changes coming at Health
Health minister Bernhard Haufiku yesterday said massive administrative changes could be expected at the beleaguered ministry, including the complete overhaul of the Central Medical Store in an effort to promote accountability and efficiency.
The changes will include staff changes at the CMS and moving the department to a bigger building.
A portion of the former Ramatex textile factory has been identified as a potential storage facility for the CMS.
The ministry has enjoyed negative publicity in recent weeks, with a personality clash between Haufiku and his former permanent secretary, Andreas Mwoombola, widely reported in the media.
The standoff had threatened to compromise the quality of service delivery at state hospitals.
Mwoombola has since been transferred to the cabinet office in the Office of the Prime Minister. Mwoombola was hastily moved last Friday in an effort to restore order at the health ministry.
Haufiku yesterday briefed journalists that consultants from the United Kingdom were roped in to turn around the CMS.
“Come 2018 things will change and they will change for the better,” he said.
Haufiku also said communication would be strengthened to ensure that medical supplies are distributed timeously to health facilities.
He also said service delivery at the ministry was compromised because of a poor attitude among staff, but that would be a thing of the past in the new year.
“Come 2018 we will all wear name tags – from the minister to the cleaner – so that when you come to the hospital you will know exactly that Haufiku was the one shouting at you,” he said.
According to Haufiku, call centres will also be introduced to help improve service delivery.
JEMIMA BEUKES
The changes will include staff changes at the CMS and moving the department to a bigger building.
A portion of the former Ramatex textile factory has been identified as a potential storage facility for the CMS.
The ministry has enjoyed negative publicity in recent weeks, with a personality clash between Haufiku and his former permanent secretary, Andreas Mwoombola, widely reported in the media.
The standoff had threatened to compromise the quality of service delivery at state hospitals.
Mwoombola has since been transferred to the cabinet office in the Office of the Prime Minister. Mwoombola was hastily moved last Friday in an effort to restore order at the health ministry.
Haufiku yesterday briefed journalists that consultants from the United Kingdom were roped in to turn around the CMS.
“Come 2018 things will change and they will change for the better,” he said.
Haufiku also said communication would be strengthened to ensure that medical supplies are distributed timeously to health facilities.
He also said service delivery at the ministry was compromised because of a poor attitude among staff, but that would be a thing of the past in the new year.
“Come 2018 we will all wear name tags – from the minister to the cleaner – so that when you come to the hospital you will know exactly that Haufiku was the one shouting at you,” he said.
According to Haufiku, call centres will also be introduced to help improve service delivery.
JEMIMA BEUKES
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