PRESS RELEASE
HEALTH CARE IN INTENSIVE CARE: ACC’S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR REFORM IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND SANITATION
The Anti-Corruption Commission in accordance with the provisions of the Anti-Corruption Act 2008 has carried out a systems review of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation. Following the review, the Commission has today issued a forty-two page report entitled ‘Recommendation for Reform: Towards a Better Health Care Delivery System.’ The report proffers a number of recommendations for reform all aimed at improving the health care delivery service in Sierra Leone and eliminating or reducing the risk of the occurrence of corrupt practice in the Ministry and in hospitals and health centre across the country.
This report covers a number of key areas namely; revenue collection, improvement in the conditions of service, procurement, the role of the management committees and secretaries, government subventions, audit and stores management and decentralization.
The Commission recommended inter alia that Revenue Collection in all government hospitals should be centralized; All financial management by Unit Heads must be made known to the Principal Accountant and the Vote Controller; Financial information of funding partners must be made known to the Vote Controller at all times; Government Subvention to the hospitals be increased and paid timely; Doctors should provide their professional service in the hospitals and should leave administration entirely in the hands of the Administrators; the Management Committees, Hospital Boards and secretaries should be given greater autonomy to carry out their mandate as provided for in the Hospital Boards Act 2003; the Conditions of Service for employees in the health sector must be reviewed; Drug donations must comply with the internationally endorsed drug donation guidelines; The devolution of Secondary Health Care Service must strictly follow the decentralization agenda and that the procurement process and records management in the Ministry and in hospital leave a lot to be desired as it provides ample room for corruption to occur.
The report has been presented to the Honourable Minister of Health and Sanitation and the staff of the Ministry. The Commission will work with the Ministry to ensure that these recommendations are fully implemented.
A full report may be requested by email at info@anticorruption.gov.sl
Glennis Sourie
Communications Officer 5th May 2009
Together, We Can Fight Corruption
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