Senior Executive Management of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) and National Referral Hospital (NRH) together with NRH’s Heads of Departments (HODs) and senior staff had successfully completed the first of its kind mid-term review and forward planning.
The review and planning was aimed at strengthening understanding on responsibilities towards improving quality services at NRH, implement positive changes within various departments and actively participate in changing the organizational culture and new ways to improve hospital services with existing limited resources.
The meeting also cover specific areas which the hospital management and clinicians reviewed the current systems and procedures in managing patients care in particular bed management and patient flows.
NRH’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr George Malefoasi in his brief remarks at the start of the review highlighted that demand for hospital admissions have increased, Epidemiological burden of diseases have doubled and although basic resources have also doubled over the years, it is not enough.
“Our resources have not doubled enough to contain the demand, resources are not vibrant, and sophisticated enough to contain the depth of the diseases and enough to cover the extent of the diseases therefore creativity and innovation to drive change critically needed”
“We have an opportunity to fulfil this through our NRH’s Business Plan 2021 plus and onwards that outlines the strategic approach to change how business is done at NRH, necessary organizational change to deliver quality care and management and mandate to improve the operations at all levels of the hospital in the wards. It is also an operational guide to effective treatment and care to all the patients”, explained Dr Malefoasi.
Four (4) thematic areas presented and discussed during the review includes, ensuring strategic vision that is in line with Universal Health Coverage, maintenance of standard quality care, upgrading of infrastructure and other resources and effective response to public health emergencies.
At the review meeting set of resolution were endorse and the business plan was passed. Key areas for strengthening are bed management and patient flow, clinical governance, clinical programs driving public health goals, medical laboratory support services into shift work and surge capacity planning at the hospital.
Permanent Secretary Mrs. Pauline McNeil at the review highlighted that similar review was also conducted throughout the week for all National Public Health Programs and technical support.
“This is the first of its kind and will not be the last. The Ministry’s Senior Executive Management had agreed that such reviews needs to start taking place if we are to ensure that progresses are monitored, issues and gaps identified and swift corrective measures and solutions are undertaken for better delivery of health services to the people”, explained Mrs. McNeil.
She thanked the NRH CEO and Senior Executive for organizing the review highlighting that health care especially at the primary health care level remains a challenge thus an important area to address as reflected in the high demand of beds at the National Referral Hospital.
“But this also points to the need for greater collaboration and cooperation through sharing of information and best practices, strengthening and improvements on the the strategic interface between clinical health care and public health programs. I do believe that we will make a greater impact through working and planning together and combining efforts and resources between various departments and programs”, stated Mrs. McNeil.
She thanked all participants for availing themselves for the review and stated that fulfilment of the objectives of the review meeting will significantly contribute to better health care and service delivery to the people.
Source: Press Release, Ministry of Health and Medical Services