POINTS FROM PRESS CONFERENCE BY DIRECTOR GENERAL HEALTH DIVISION: REFORMING THE HEALTH CARE SECTOR

POINTS FROM PRESS CONFERENCE BY DIRECTOR GENERAL HEALTH DIVISION: REFORMING THE HEALTH CARE SECTOR

For the past few years we have all been speculating the approach of the new millennium. Now we have crossed the thresholdof the new millennium, and as in other sectors, the health care sectormust synchronize its operations to be able to meet and sustain the dynamic demands of present and future needs of our nation.

That is why the reform of the health care sector is a prerequisite and an important milestone in the history of the health care sector. We cannot look at the future in health care with the eyes of the past as in so doing these shall inundate and overwhelm us. It is our responsibility as policy makers to ensure and secure the health of the nation and that health care will remain accessible to all.

The philosophy behind our health care reform offers the possibilities for the simultaneous restructuring of the public and the private sector and it contemplates:

1. A better health care service that optimally exploits the tax payers' contributions.

2. The introduction of a new school of thought that promotes modern regulations, norms and practices that address today's needs and tomorrow's exigencies.

3. A mechanism that safeguards and sustains tomorrow's welfare state even at the operational level.

The health care reform is directed at being economically feasible and at ensuring that we attain the best quality of service at the lowest sustainable costs for the benefit of our nation. To sustain this philosophy we must radically address and control wastage, and re-direct these resources to more pressing needs.

We have all heard and we all agree that reforms instigate fear-fear of change. Nevertheless, it is no longer accepted and justified that the taxpayer's money should be misused and abused. Today, the health care sector pays Lm1,000,000 [one million] in wages to the workforce within the cleaning sector of St. Luke's Hospital - hence, it is unacceptable to increase this amount by farming-out this service to the open market and to further burden the tax payer to sustain this additional superfluous expense.

The time has come, where all members of the workforce become responsible and accountable for their daily work and that their remuneration actually does reflect the day's work. We are pleased to acknowledge that the majority of our workforce have understood this line of reasoning and appreciate their strive to meet the changing needs. On the other hand, we are not intimidated by an unsupportive and destructive minority, who at the expense of their colleagues, have been abusing the system of sick-leave and truancy while on duty. The reform contemplates full responsibility towards one's duty at work and, one must no longer expect to get paid for truancy and for abusing of the system. It is our duty to ensure that the taxpayer's money is well invested and not misused.

We are determined to move forward and this necessitates change. The difficulties and resistance we have encountered in these past few months, reflect fear of the unknown, fear of modernisation and scepticism from the workforce to their professional status within the system.

Therefore, the aim behind the reform of the Hospital Cleaning Service is twofold:

1. To attain the long desired effective and efficient professional cleanliness within all our hospitals.

2. To achieve an optimum level of professionalism from our workforce by giving them the long overdue corporate identity and a clear sense of purpose.

The reform programme of the Hospital Cleaning Service is intended to promote long-term excellence, with the aim to guarantee:

• Superior client/user service

• Constant innovation

• Full use of the abilities of the workforce

Change does not happen over-night, and for change to succeed we must create a culture for change. Therefore, it is of absolute importance that these reforms are agreed to and accepted by all those concerned. The Unions are in tune with our philosophy and have collaborated fully by promoting the need and culture for change amongst their members

Eventually, all Government sectors would need to shift from the old school of thought and move towards supplementing traditional financial measures with criteria that measures performance.

By introducing the reforms within the health care sector we are not only following today's trend - but we are introducing change as it is necessary for the benefit of our nation; to better the health status of our families, while at the same time bettering the working conditions of our workforce and creating new opportunities for professionals and personal growth.

This Reform is part of a series of reforms that the health care sector is presently undergoing. Some of these reforms have already been successfully initiated in other health care sectors and we are already experiencing their benefits.

We are fully aware that the way ahead is hard and tortuous, but our vision is clear and we are determined to succeed in our endeavours - otherwise we are unable to guarantee the sustainability of the health care services. We are definitely not disheartened by short-term problems as we are fully aware that the outcome of this reform will be beneficial to all concerned.

28.01.2000