Sunday, 18 October 2015

Release of funds vital for free healthcare policy


Caption:  Secretary for Health Pascoe Kase



By MATTHEW VARI

Wednesday, February 26, 2014 (Midweek Chronicle, PNG)




SECRETARY for the Department of Health Pascoe Kase has called on relevant government agencies to release the allocated to carry out the free primary and subsidized specialist health care policy, which officially comes into effect tomorrow.

He said that in order for the policy to work effectively- all levels of government especially provincial governments must speed up the processing of funds of K20 million for all health facilities in the country.

“Departments such as Treasury to release funds, especially the health function grants and this K20 million the government has appropriated.”

“We would want them to release these monies to the hospitals, health centers, aid posts, and district hospitals on time, because with such a policy there is the possibility of people blaming it not being carried out on the lateness of the money.”

He said that important partners like treasury and provincial governments release of funds on time to all facilities can greatly impact the way the sector will carry out its roles under the new policy.

“This will cater for their needs in order to open their doors so that our patients can seek medical attention with the required medicines or facilities needed to achieve it.”

“This policy’s main objective is to make sure that people receive basic health services.”

“Meaning the Health Department with its partners like national Planning and provincial government, we make sure facilities are open and functional at all time.”

He added that now that the services were free, everyone will start marching into the health centers or hospitals.

“As our responsibility, we must make sure that money for rehabilitation of hospitals, health centers, aid posts are built to a level where it can sustain.”


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