SECRETARY-GENERAL
called upon to consider policies to enable doctors, nurses and other health personnel to work effectively, with sufficient remuneration. This is often not easy and straightforward. In some countries, health practitioners may demand to be paid highly for their services, sometimes inconsistent with the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Some of such demands, if not carefully considered and negotiated, may lead to polarized health systems. To improve the wage constraints desired by doctors, nurses and other health practitioners, some governments are known to have allowed them to work in both public and private clinics; a policy option which is without risk to public health. In general, health policy framers should guard against practitioners’
demands that may cause divisions in how the general public accesses healthcare.
The second
aspect of health policy concerns is with regard to health infrastructure. This involves decisions to construct hospital buildings and the acquisition of hospital equipment.
The policy development of this infrastructure is usually predicated by the need to bring health services closer to the people. Good health policymakers would
therefore ensure the establishment of health centres to cater for frequently reported (infectious) diseases. In several developing Commonwealth countries such as Tanzania and Kenya, this policy has made a great difference in the health delivery to communities which otherwise were non-existent during colonial times, and yet traditional health remedies were discouraged or banned. I plead that Parliamentarians should continue to shape the policy decisions that lead to capital expenditure on properties that would facilitate easy access to health services, especially for maternal,
children and elderly care.
Reducing child mortality rates is still a major public health issue in many developing countries
The third policy consideration for health delivery is financing. Usually, almost all governments and Parliaments in the world have to make difficult choices on how to finance various sectors of the economy. Under many people’s needs but limited
resources, the decisions on priorities are often rigorous. It is my view, however, that Parliamentarians should fight for the development of an overall strong health infrastructure, with sufficient funding for the training of doctors, nurses and other health personnel.
Parliamentarians should therefore always exert their influence for a good Commonwealth gallery
VIEW FROM THE
The CPA Secretary- General (right) greeting Lord John Sharkey (left).
Pictured with Mr Bernie Bush, MLA, (lef) and Hon. William McKeeva Bush, JP, MLA, (right) from the Cayman Islands
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