Health ministry launches client charter

In the Charter, the ministry also wants to amend the 1968 Public Health Act which officials say does not address the current public health needs and challenges.

Mobilising resources and putting in place a national health insurance scheme are some of the key plans government wants to implement in the next year, according a the health ministry client Charter.

The Charter also spells out the ministry’s duties and responsibilities to the public. This, therefore, means that patients and other stakeholders in the health sector can now hold the ministry accountable if they fail to deliver services.

In the Charter, the ministry says, it is committed to reducing pharmaceutical and medical supplies stock outs at all facility levels, revise resource allocation formula to enhance equity as well as spearhead resource mobilization aimed at increasing government expenditure on health from the current 8 per cent to 12 per cent by 2015.

In the Charter, the ministry also wants to amend the 1968 Public Health Act which officials say does not address the current public health needs and challenges.

Speaking at the launch of the Charter at the weekend, health minister Dr Christine Ondoa said the deed will work as a guide to fulfilling the ministry’s obligations to its clients.

“The charter will enable health users, providers, health partners and policy makers to work together to contribute to the development of better health care delivery system,” the minister said.

However, some skeptics say the charter may not necessarily improve service care delivery if commitments made remain on paper and are not implemented.

“While the charter provides information to the public on what the ministry has committed to do in the next three years, I am not excited that it will be fully implemented,” said an official who preferred not to be named.

For it to become effective and useful, the public needs to be educated about the duties and responsibilities that the ministry has towards them.
aayebazibwe@ug.nationmedia.com