BY KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
NORTH West health department MEC, Dr Magome Masike said they will introduce new electronic filing system at hospitals and clinics. Dr Masike said this after many losses of files occurred recently. He said the plan to improve the availability of medical supplies and medical depot was in a full swing too.
“The poor accessibility of pharmaceutical and medical related items at health facilities was some of challenges. However we came up with a strategic plan to address that. We have engaged with our suppliers to reduce the challenges. Poor availability of medical stock from them hindered our stock levels. This affects our medical depot and the availability of medication at health facilities.
“Efforts are also being made to reduce the challenges encountered with supplier performance. A close bid for procurement of pharmaceutical and medical related items that are not on contract or not available from contracted suppliers has been arranged,” Masike said.
He further added that an open bid will be advertised for a provincial database for pharmaceutical and surgical. He said they have also appointed two distributors to ferry medications from depot to hospitals and clinics.
“The appointment resolves transportation challenges that we encountered before. We have also appointed contract workers to strengthen depot operations, particularly at the dispatch unit since February.
“We will also monitor our sub-district managers quarterly. We want to check if they make sure medication is available at hospitals and clinics. We will also engage with our nurses to make sure we bring back the dignity within nursing profession. We want a good working relationship between them and the patients,” Masike said.
He also added that they will host another nursing summit later this year.
“We have realised that the loss of files at our hospital facilities is high. We have experienced many lawsuits and paid large sum of money. However new electronic filing system will help us to reduce that. We believe there is a third force that is working with lawyers to guzzle-up from health department coffer.
“We want to make sure that community service in the medical field is meeting its objectives. We will also increase intake of nurses. Our nurses will receive training to be reminded of their primary healthcare duties,” Masike said.
He said lack of resources affects the day-to-day process at many hospitals. However Dr Masike added that they will come up with intervention. He said putting the needs of the patients at the frontiers is important.
DENOSA representative, Modise Letsatsi: “We welcome the improved changes the department introduced. We believe more nurses are needed to improve the service delivery. Our nurses will also receive training to deal with their attitude towards patients.”
-TDN
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