SHP gets heath authority status

Caption:   Health Minister Michael Malabag and SHP Governor William Powi signing the agreement.

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, April 27, 2014 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

THE management and delivery of health services in the Southern Highlands Provinces (SHP) will now be more efficient and effective with the signing of a Provincial Health Authority (PHA) Partnership Agreement between the Southern Highlands Provincial Government and the National Department of Health, last week in Port Moresby.

Under the arrangement, the Southern Highland Province will set up its Provincial Health Authority through the Provincial Health Authorities Act.

The act is aimed at removing the impediments and barriers in the delivery of health services, which currently causes the separation of roles and responsibilities between urban-based hospitals and rural health services.

It will allow the unification of rural health and public hospital management and delivery system under a single health authority in the province.

Present to sign the agreement, along with his acting provincial administrator, Governor of Southern Highlands William Powi thanked the health ministry under the leadership of its Minister Michael Malabag and its Secretary Pascoe Kase, on behalf of his people.

He revealed that the establishment of the authority would address many of the issues that faced the province in the health sector, especially in the operations of health facilities.

“Of the 127 aid posts we have in the province, 80 have been closed, and during the last three weeks I have ordered my provincial health officials to open them,” Powi said.

“If the basic institutions of government are closed at the community level- how are you going to deliver medical services to all 510,000 people of Southern Highlands?”

“Medical supplies are not reaching these rural health facilities.”

“That is why we are here today with an opportunity to do something to improve where we are at the moment.”

He added that the province was sitting third last on the list provinces with effective health systems, something he said the signing and establishment  of the authority would change by setting a new pace of quality health care delivery on the ground.

Minister Malabag attested to the new policy’s direction saying that since its trial in Western Highlands, Milne Bay, and Eastern Highlands provinces, the roles of the provincial health authorities have impacted the delivery of medical services.

“I am pleased to say that health reform has been trialed in Western highlands, Milne Bay, and Eastern Highlands provinces and are doing very well in delivery and management of public and curative health services under a unified health structure,” Malabag announced.

“Before this signing- West New Britain is the fourth province to launch its declaration in March, while Enga will have its PHA declared next week (tomorrow).”

The minister outlined the benefits of the reform to that of having only one board of governance, one management structure, one financial accounting system, and one monitoring and performance arrangement.

“Under this arrangement, the CEO of the Authority will be recognized as a deemed Departmental Head for the purpose of exercising powers over personnel matters under the Public Services (Management) Act and financial matters under the Public Finances (Management) Act.”

He added that on the government’s part- they expect to support ongoing reforms in the sector, as long as they translate into improved provincial and national health outcomes and increase in life expectancy.