National Assembly approves Health Care Agency and health ministry budgets |31 March 2021
The National Assembly yesterday continued with deliberations on the Appropriations Bill, 2021, considering and approving unanimously both the budget allocations to the Health Care Agency (HCA) and Ministry of Health, under the leadership of Minister for Health Peggy Vidot.
The first entity to defend its budget before the members yesterday was the HCA, represented by chief executive Danny Louange, director general human resources and centralised services Mirose Boniface and financial controller Michel Brutus, joined by principal secretary for finance Damien Thesee.
In introducing the R1,301,931,000 appropriation, the second largest budget of all entities, Minister Vidot noted an increment of R87,391,000 as compared to the 2020 allocation, on account of the costly efforts to stop the propagation of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the devaluation of the Seychelles Rupee.
Of the budget, the biggest proportion has been appropriated for hospital and specialised services, to a sum of R810,903,000 while a further R111,438,000 has been allocated to cover governance, management and administrative costs.
The 2021 budget further makes provision for health support services to a sum of R118,857,000 for health support services. The allocation for curative and preventive services has also increased by R11.6 million as compared to the 2020 budget, bringing the total to R260,733,000.
According to Minister Vidot, a whopping USD($)4.05 million is being invested in a health information system, towards an improved appointment system, electronic record keeping and better follow-up, in a bid to render its services more effective and efficient, in line with its strategic objective to bring health services closer to the community.
As part of the efforts to make the service more effective, the entity will be reviewing services and how they are administered, including dialysis, in a bid to make the services more sustainable. Presently, dialysis services represent 10 percent of the entity’s budget to treat around 200 patients.
In response to a query by Hon. Philip Monthy as to an appropriation of almost R3 million for overseas airfares, Dr Louange clarified that the entity employs 180 expatriates, 99 of whom are doctors while 55 are nurses distributed across different services, and the appropriation makes provisions for their holidays, as well as for funding trips for specialists to conduct short medical camps held at the Seychelles Hospital. The agency presently employs 92 Seychellois doctors and is working towards the development and specialisation for the doctors, so as to eventually replace expatriate doctors and meet the needs required locally.
Members of the assembly were particularly concerned with the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, health and essential services within respective districts, dialysis services over which there was some contention over recent years, as well as the entity’s plans for the year considering the current economic and public health crisis.
Hon. Gervais Henrie, elected Linyon Demokratik Seselwa (LDS) member for Mont Buxton, proposed during the deliberations that the agency make available at no cost sanitary towels to young adolescent girls, in consideration of the R1 million spent on contraceptives, including contraceptive pills, implants, condoms and other contraceptive equipment. The proposition was well received by Dr Louange.
With regard to a R5 million allocation for the acquisition of ambulances, Dr Louange noted that 14 ambulances were donated to the agency over the past three years in addition to those purchased by the entity, but that the fleet needs to be replaced and the fleet standardised to offer better service.
“We can go further in the way that we deliver the service to bring it to the standard that we would want. Our infrastructure is not up to par, things are breaking, we have fungus outbreaks, and we lack some equipment that we need, so there are a lot of gaps. Some will be more costly than others to fix, but the efforts need to be made this year to improve on,” Minister Vidot asserted.
With regard to a decrease in the medicines head from R78 million to R61 million, Minister Vidot clarified that the agency is looking into buying medical supplies which are not necessarily branded and at a lower cost without compromising the quality of the medical supplies. It is also expected that the National information system will serve to reduce wastage and address inconsistencies in dispensing pharmaceuticals.
As for an increase in laboratory from R23 million to R31.5 million, Dr Louange explained that the provision is for replacement of obsolete and old laboratory equipment in the Praslin facility, the blood bank and other laboratories.
Following lengthy debates, the budget was approved unanimously.
The budget for the entire ministry amounting to R49,677,000 was also tabled to the assembly for approval.
In introducing the budget, Minister Vidot outlined the functions and roles of the ministry in strategising and proposing changes to laws and regulations pertaining to public health.
“The budget that I am presenting today, emphasises the important role of the ministry. A significant proportion of the budget is dedicated towards formation and the development of health workers, future and present in Seychelles. This is the budget for the National Institute of Health and Social Studies (NIHSS). The rest of the budget is for the administration of other important strategic programmes such as coordination of operational research subjects, the collection and analysis of statistics, as well as follow-ups and communication,” Minister Vidot explained.
The minister went on to attribute the increment in the ministry’s budget to new arrangements whereby allowances for students which were previously being administered by the Agency for Social Protection (ASP) are now catered for under the ministry, as well as transportation for the students to and from the NIHSS.
Members of the assembly were informed that 53 percent of the ministry’s total budget is dedicated towards training and development, in two components. One portion of the budget is allocated for training and development purposes at the NIHSS, while the other applies to in-service workers.
With regard to R3.6 million in rent of offices, principal secretary Bernard Valentin noted the rental of one building at a rent of around R300,000, although the owners have formally agreed to reduce the rent by 15 percent monthly. It is expected that once the Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) moves to its new building at Union Vale, the ministry can take over the property currently occupied by the public service broadcaster at Hermitage. The ministry also rents a small property to house the nutrition unit on account of space constraints at the blue building.
In ending the sitting, Minister Vidot urged all members to applaud health and care workers on April 6, World Health Worker Day.
The ministry’s budget was also approved unanimously with 31 votes in favour.
The budget allocations for the Public Health Authority (PHA) and Agency for the Prevention of Drug Abuse and Rehabilitation (Apdar) will be considered by the assembly during today’s sitting, after it considers a minor legislative amendment.
Laura Pillay