THE Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) on Wednesday launch its consolidated Annual Operation Plans (AOP) for the year 2020.
Speaking at the launching Permanent Secretary Pauline McNeil said the 2020 AOP and Budget sets forth the focus of efforts and Ministry’s organisational commitments for the current fiscal year.
“Consistent with our National Health Strategic Plan (NHSP) 2016-2020, RDP Policy as well as the priorities of the DCGA, the AOP 2020 is the result of input from the various departments, divisions, including NRH and the Provincial Health Service and Development Partners,” she said.
McNeil said this year, the ministry would want to build on the successes of 2019 in increasing its budgetary execution, utilisation and implementation rate by delivering on a 25% rate each quarter.
She said in 2019, utilisation rates have improved as compared to previous years.
“For the first time after many years, MHMS has had an increase in its Recurrent Budget by $22M. However, with the increased budget for the MHMS, it also comes with good stewardship of managing the budget, ensuring accountability, transparency, value for money and efficiency of the usage of the funds,” she said.
McNeil said the AOP 2020 is basically the core work of the ministry especially in directing what to deliver before the closure of 2020.
“Not only that, but also ensuring that the core business of the ministry is the aim to hit the target of achieving improvement of health indicators, improving its operational indicators,” she said.
She then acknowledged their development partners in the ministry, who have signed up on the SWAP arrangement with the ministry ensuring for an improved coordination and management of how best to deliver their strategic outputs via the AOP 2020.
Mcneil said some of them are FDAT, World Bank and the UN system partners, the likes of WHO, UNICEF and UNFPA.
“Let us all work together to build on the improvement that we achieved in 2019. 2020 will be an exciting year as we as it will be the final year of our current NHSP and we will all be heavily involved in developing a new strategic health plan covering the next five years from 2021 to 2025.
“We need the next NHSP to build on the success of the last NHSP whilst also covering emerging issues and refocused government priorities.
“I look forward to your contribution to doing what we can as a ministry and together as a team to improve the health of our people,” she added.
By IAN M.KAUKUI
