Despite the impression that healthcare facilities are all about saving lives, effective financial management is also mandatory to ensure that public money is used in the most economical, effective and efficient manner in compliance with applicable rules and regulations.
Port Shepstone Regional Hospital was visited by a delegation from the provincial government, to encourage and promote sound financial management principles.
Hospital PRO Phumza Morai, said the health facility was applauded for practising these principles.
“The purpose of the visit was to review the hospital’s budget against its expenditure, to support and check if the expenditure procedures and regulations are followed when spending the funds,” she added.
The hospital’s CEO, Bawinile Ndlovu gave an overview of the population that the facility serves and its dynamics, the referral system in place and the number of beds it manages.
Finance manager Nqobile Radebe indicated that the hospital received R732 101 000 for the current financial year and highlighted how it has been spent so far, including the high cost drivers such as medication, nutrition, blood products, gloves and disposable sundries, sutures, surgical supplies, implants and medical laboratory tests, cleaning services and electricity.
Morai said the human resource manager, Mxolisi Zulu gave an in-depth presentation on the hospital’s structure, staff establishment and further highlighted a 7% vacancy rate.
“Both the national and provincial teams were impressed with the financial management controls and commended the senior management and the clinical staff who in spite of some of the buildings being old and wards overcrowded, continue to render services to the people of Ugu District.
“The national team acknowledged that a lot still needs to be done to improve the IT systems as increased use of computers has many benefits for patients, improves accuracy and timeliness of patient care, increases service availability, and can show improvement gaps for better quality patient care,” said Morai.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Like the South Coast Herald’s Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram
