Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Donald Mmbando
The country’s Regional and District Hospitals will soon be connected to electronic payment system (E-Payment) in an effort to increase revenues that will help combat corruption while increasing financial aid to health projects.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare Dr Donald Mmbando told the press yesterday during the annual General Meeting for Regional and District Medical Officers that despite hospitals being among the crucial source of revenues, very limited revenue were being collected.
He said those hospitals collect small amount of money as many government offices do not connected to Electronic Fiscal Devices (EFDs) system.
He told the press that it has been proved that the institution which does not use E-Payment system collect small amount of revenue compared to the ones who use the system.
“One of the strategies we have set is to strengthen revenue collection by introducing E-payment system. We have witnessed positive changes wherever the electronic system has been installed,” he said.
He cited an example of Mbeya Regional Referral hospital where before using the system, monthly revenues were Sh50 million, but after the system was installed monthly collections were Sh 600 million.
He added that they have agreed that each health sector worker will struggle for big result so that people can get health services at a maximum quality.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary launched special programme for treating pneumonia and fever to children known as ZIORA (Zinc, ORS +Amoxylin) which aims at insuring that children get proper treatment.
The Ministry has been able to reach the 4th Millennium Development Goal which is to reduce deaths to the under fives. Also, the 6th Goal which is to combat HIV, malaria and other diseases has been reached by 70 per cent
During the meeting participants in the Four Key Areas proposed in Big Results Now (BRN) initiative agreed to be implemented.
Among the Key Areas agreed were to reduce maternal and infant deaths, to insure 100 per cent availability of medicines to every patient, to produce more health workers so that each health facility have enough workers, and to maximise quality of the health services.
Other agreements reached are the initiation of health care financial strategy which will insure the availability of health insurance to every Tanzanian and the service of medical equipment to avoid higher expenses of purchasing new ones every year.
Speaking while closing the Annual general meeting, the Permanent Secretary asked the participants to insist on the revenue collection issue at the health centres so as to lessen the burden of budget to the government.
“Each one of us have witnessed how difficult it is for our government to get funds with some development partners were starting the cut down of their helping hand, so it is our responsibility to take proper measures in overseeing the improvement of revenue collection at our centres so that we can provide quality health services.
Each health centre is supposed to have independent budget without affecting the services provided by increasing expenses to people,” he said.
“It’s important that the directory of health services contribution is used properly to insure equality of service to everyone whether that person is contributing for the particular service or not. I am pleased to see the issue of revenue collection improvement being taken as a resolution,” he added.
“Make decisions by complying with laws, principles, directions and procedures of the country. Learn from each other, cooperate, and share experiences often,” he said
The 2015 annual Regional and District Medical Officers meeting was held at Ubungo Plaza Dar es Salaam from 8th to yesterday, 11th September.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
