Freetown, April 8, 2015 (MOHS) – The Directorate of Health Systems, Planning, Policy and Information in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development and development partners has ended a one day meeting on Performance Based Financing (PBF) at the Hill Valley Hotel in Freetown.
The Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Sarian Kamara described the Performance-Based Financing External Verification as timely in improving a strong and resilient health care delivery services in health facilities across the country.
She noted that women in the past hardly accessed the health facilities but with the introduction of the Performance-Based Financing, pregnant women, lactating mothers are motivated to use the health facilities.
She encouraged participants to take the PBF External Verification meeting seriously as it will help to improve their facilities, and wished them a successful deliberation with concrete suggestions and recommendations for the way forward in achieving the desired goal.
The Economist, Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, Nicky Kamara assured the participants of his Ministry’s commitment in ensuring that all PBF payment reaches the appropriate beneficiaries.
He noted the challenges in the past where payments in certain areas were delayed adding that mechanisms have now been put in place with a view to ensuring that all payments are made on time.
Giving the purpose and expected outcome of the meeting, the Programme Coordinator, Options Consultancy, Alhassan Fouard Kanu said the meeting was to discuss district-specific findings and recommendations from the external verification of the PBF scheme.
He said the objective of the PBF was to change the behavior of health providers at facility level for them to deliver more quality services under the free health care policy.
The Director, Health Systems Planning Policy and Information and Chairman for the occasion, Dr. Samuel Kargbo said the meeting also aimed at reviewing and exploring the last PBF ahead of the PBF PLUS, and to find ways of improving it to ensure job commitment, punctuality, transparency, accountability and dedication to service.
Other highlights include contributions from Hospital Medical Superintendents, Matrons, Finance Officers from various hospitals, District Medical Officers, Presentation of external validation report, Group work on districts reflections on the challenges and opportunities of the scheme and on the new PBF plus Scheme.
KK/MOHS