Greater transparency for service delivery in Northern Province

Communities in Northern Province will be able to more closely monitor government spending following the publication of Health Services Charters for four health facilities.

Published with Australia’s support, the charters outline services, standards and allocated budgets for the Kokoda, Saiho and Sangara health centres and the Popondetta General Hospital, which are wholly PNG Government funded and managed.

The charters were launched by Francis Possy, Manager, Policy Legal and Governance, National Department of Health, and Henry Yamo of the Consultative Implementation and Monitoring Committee. The preparation of the charters was supported by the PNG-Australia Law and Justice Partnership – Transition Program, which assists in the strengthening of law and justice delivery.

“By publishing transparent information about the services that communities can expect and the public funds that are being made available, we hope to help improve service delivery and accountability,” Australian High Commission Counsellor Richelle Tickle said.

“The Australian Government commends the Department of Health and the Consultative Implementation and Monitoring Council for working together on this important initiative. We are very pleased to have supported the development of these Health Services Charters, as well as the Oro Village Courts Service and Budget charter earlier this year.”

The charters list all the services provided by the four healthcare providers together with itemised budgets, and includes the officials responsible for delivering the budgeted funds to the health facilities. The charters will be widely displayed at all the health facilities.

Additionally, the CIMC will provide training for health centre and hospital stakeholders on the relationship between the budget and the charter, and how to monitor expenditure against the budget.