Going public: Health monitoring unit website provides real-time data

Monitors upload data from sites visited using android devices

PESHAWAR:

Leaving itself open to accountability, the health department has said it has launched the website of its Independent Monitoring Unit, making the situation at government-run medical facilities public.

The data on http://www.imuhealthkp.gov.pk highlights shortcomings in health facilities, attendance of staff and action taken by officials. The data was directly uploaded via android phones and shared on the site’s dashboard with officials. The dashboard runs scrolling ticker updates.

According to the website, monitors confirmed the presence of medical officers at around 64% basic health units (BHU) in Buner, 61% in Mansehra, 38 % in Hangu, 36% in Battagram, 35% in DI Khan, 20% in Tank and 20% in Lower Dir.  It was determined only 16% BHUs in Kohistan have medical officers and 18 districts maintained less than 67% of the required medicine stock for a 15-day period.



“We have made all the information public, this will not only identify loopholes, but allow people to guide us for further improvement,” Minister for Health Shahram Khan Tarakai told the media after launching the IMU website at the Health Secretariat on Friday.

Poking about

The minister said 175 monitors paid 16,000 visits to 1,518 health facilities across the province. Some of the problems they identified had been resolved while others would be addressed with the passage of time, said Tarakai.

“With the help of the website, people will receive real-time data as monitors will upload the information from the spot via android devices,” Tarakai said. He added majority of the facilities had adequate medicine stock for 15 days.

The minister pointed out the old pattern always took time, but with the IMU in place and the facilities outsourced, shortcomings were immediately reduced following quick action,” he said.

Action, reaction

He stated some six employees were terminated, 789 served show-cause notices, 52 transferred and salaries of 319 were deducted for failing to perform their duties accordingly. Tarakai said the department was not only imposing penalties, but would also reward outstanding employees at the end of the year.

“Since heath facilities are being outsourced, the partners will also be monitored.”

Privatisation vs outsourcing

While replying to a question, Tarakai stated health facilities were outsourced and not being privatised. He said the outsourcing would help take matters in the right direction.

The minister stated matters had been heading in the wrong direction for 67 years and bringing matters on the right track would take some time.

He stated a majority of doctors were reluctant to take charge at hospitals in the peripheries and all candidates were interested in working in the provincial capital or Abbottabad. The minister added the government was offering attractive packages for those performing duties in the far flung areas.

“Yes, the district health information system was in place and provided information on diseases and patients besides coverage, but not on the shortcomings and lack of facilities.”

Besides Tarakai, Health Secretary Abid Majeed, Health Director General Dr Parvez Kamal and IMU officials were present on the occasion.

On April 16, 2015, Chief Minister Pervez Khattak inaugurated the IMU to keep tabs on health facilities and the performance of department employees to ensure quality health service delivery by surveying public sector hospitals across K-P. A sum of Rs478.9 million was allocated for the three-year project.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 26^th,  2016.