Health Minister suspends WHP Health Authority board

The Minister for Health and HIV/AIDS has suspended the Western Highlands Provincial Health Authority (PHA) for the impasse created by health professionals for the third time in 2016.

The walking-off duty between the authorities in the WHPHA, including the nursing and doctors associations, has endangered the lives of the innocent people in the area, Michael Malabag said.

“The results have caused strain of effective health service delivery so as a responsible government, I have decided to appoint an interim board until an administrator is appointed for that matter,” he said.

“The suspension of David Guinn board is effective as of today (24-08-16).”

The boards as well as management structures and unions were created under various legislations to safeguard services and people who provide those services, he stressed.

“I have therefore, as the responsible minister, invoked my powers under the Provincial Health Authorities Act 2007 to suspend the board and appoint a caretaker board for a period not more than one month.”

He said health workers and administrators have to act professionally to address issues and not to take administrative issues as industrial matters.

“The Department of Health is dealing with the issues as brought forward by the staff through the National Doctors Union and currently, investigations are underway and are yet to be finalised,” the Minister said.

A caretaker board will replace the old board whilst investigations are underway to establish and substantiate the allegations as contained in the petition by the staff.

Author: 
Press release