The new Hospitals Authority Bill has been approved by parliament on Monday. The new legislation will enhance the delivery of top-notch healthcare services as well as provide for management restructuring in the new positions of Chief Executive Officer and board of directors among others. The bill will also stimulate reforms and transformations of medical services with a view to strengthening strategic accountability within an accreditation framework.
According to Health Minister Irving McIntyre, the hospitals’ bill is the final result of extensive consultations with legal, economic, administrative, healthcare, and professional experts. He added that the bill represents the interests of all stakeholders, including workers’ unions, and would make for a better medical system in the country.
McIntyre said the bill was prepared by the National Health Commission after its constitution by Cabinet in 2017. The commission was tasked with preparing and reviewing healthcare services and government structure as it relates to the Dominica China Friendship Hospital (DCFH) and in all public hospitals across the country. He stated that the bill also takes care of management structure with the creation of a CEO and a nine-member board of directors.
This new hospitals authority legislation put in place new reporting arrangements and changes the current arrangement whereby the hospital services coordinator, the hospital medical director, and matron report to different administrators at the Ministry of Health. This will institute accountability on the part of medical nursing and other staff.
Irving McIntyre, Minister for Health, Wellness and New Health Investment
The health minister further disclosed that the bill will also drive efforts at improving patient care, enhancing diagnostic services, and procuring medical equipment and supplies. It will also facilitate the creation of new departments such as engineering services, quality management, patient support services, human resources, and finance and budgeting at the DCFH. Each department will be managed by a director or manager appointed by the board.
PM Roosevelt Skerrit, Minister of Trade Ian Douglas, and Minister for Youth Empowerment Adis King among other dignitaries all gave credit to the DLP administration for the success and implementation of the new bill.
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