RHAs lapse on patient care

Health Minister John Rahael, speaking at the Ministry’s Second National Public Sector Quality Awards ceremony at Cascadia Hotel last week, said it was critical that the ninth annual Client Feedback Report which was recently circulated to some RHAs, receives the urgent attention of managers and health professionals to address patients’ issues. He said the Health Ministry’s Quality Council was being "challenged" because there was no visible demonstration "on the part of some RHAs to actively implement" the recommendations of the reports.

Rahael also said there was evidence that implementation was not being maintained in other RHAs.

This, he emphasised, may suggest a lack of ownership of the quality programme or lack of institutional management support for the quality programme.

Rahael said Total Quality Management workshops will be held for senior and middle managers as well as technical staff.

He hoped that staff would make full use of the empowerment they received to improve management systems, clinical and work processes to achieve quality targets/outcomes at health facilities.

In his address, Rahael also said the Pharmacy Assistants programme would be implemented next year to complement existing staff and improve service. Scholarships will also be awarded in medicine, nursing, oncology and radiotherapy.