KUWAIT CITY : Following the breakdown of air conditioning unit in Adan Hospital and a power cut in the kidney dialysis unit in Mubarak Hospital, Minister of Health Ali Al-Barrak took some vital measures and ordered all health zones to improve health services in the country, reports Al-Wasat daily. Al-Barrak has a plan to improve the management in all hospitals and sources say the final details of the plan will be worked out by the Undersecretaries Council in corporation with international companies. According to sources, the Undersecretaries Council might force citizens to pay health insurance fees "in order to increase the ministry's income and use the revenue to develop health services in the country."
Al-Barrak, meanwhile, said he asked the legal department in the ministry to investigate the power cut episode and added that he will punish anyone found guilty of negligence. "The ministry has no reservations about appointing Bedoun doctors," he said, adding he will finalize some procedures, depending on the government policy on the subject. He added that he spoke with MP Dr Hussein Quwaian on this issue. Meanwhile, Minister of Health Ali Al-Barrak surprised ministry officials by separating the Services Unit from the Finance Affairs Department and amending the designation of Abdul-Fatah Al-Asmawi by making him the Assistant Undersecretary for Finance, reports Al-Watan Arabic daily.
Supervision
He also placed the General Services and Information Unit under the supervision of Assistant Undersecretary for Legal Affairs Abdul-Karem Jaafar, said a source, adding "the minister also annulled the Supervisory Positions Committee and transferred acting Assistant Undersecretary for Administrative Affairs Marzouq Al-Rushaedi to publicity department. "These decisions are being regarded as the first step towards total restructuring in the ministry's hierarchy, especially reshuffling of the assistant undersecretaries," he noted.
According to Al-Barrak, reshuffling is necessary to forestall recurrence of certain undesirable situations like faulty air conditioners and escalation of technical problems that were recently discovered in some hospitals. "This will enhance steady work flow and quality service delivery to patients," he affirmed.
Speaking on the issue, Undersecretary Dr Essa Al-Khalifa said the minister separated the Services Unit from the Finance Affairs Department after lengthy study and conviction that it is the right step to improve performance. "This will lead to quick completion of procedures, especially since the Services Unit is overwhelmed with responsibilities. The Amiri initiative project for expansion of hospitals is part of its responsibilities, which will be supervised by the Assistant Undersecretary for Quality Control," the medical administrative expert stated.
© Arab Times 2008
