admindatabase aimed at improving service provision in the health sector through efficient resource mobilisation and allocation.
The acting secretary in the ministry, Dr Davis Dhlakama, said the survey was already in its initial preparatory stages and would effectively start next month. He said this while giving oral evidence to the
Senate Thematic Committee on Health and Child Welfare yesterday.
“As from December we are going to do a National Health Facilities Assessment. This will tell us for example how many midwives we need, what is the state of our infrastructure and the levels of our debt.
“This will assist us on what to present to the Ministry of Finance and partners,” he said.
In an interview after the meeting yesterday Mr Dhlakama said the survey was aimed at coming up with a holistic approach on the needs of the health sector.
“The survey will also look at the qualitative side, that is what the public think about service provision and also what the health workers also think could be done to improve service provision.
“It will also look at the state of infrastructure and the levels the health institutions are equipped countrywide,” he said.
Dr Dhlakama said the assessment would also ensure equitable distribution of resources from government and partners after identifying the needs of institutions in various areas.
“We have had situations where an institution can be given, for example 10 X-ray machines when it needs five and so on. “So this is meant to identify the actual needs of institutions so that there is efficient allocation and also that no area benefits more than others,” he said. Dr Dhlakama said the survey, whose results are expected to be out by February next year, will also provide a database for future reference in development of the health sector.
Online Reporter