Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary for Technical Services, Kennedy Lishimpi, has directed health authorities in Eastern Province to display the Service Delivery Charter in all hospitals across the province.
Dr Lishimpi says the Service Delivery Charter represents a formal social contract between health facilities and the communities they serve.
He said healthcare workers must also integrate service delivery charters into their routine operations and supervisory activities.
 Dr Lishimpi made the remarks during the Dissemination and Orientation meeting on the Service Delivery Charter for General Hospitals and District Hospitals in Eastern Province.
He urged hospital administrators and management teams to orient clinical and non-clinical staff on the contents of the charter and ensure strict adherence to prescribed standards.
 ” This will remove bottlenecks in the service delivery platforms so that when the people we are serving come to our institutions, they experience improved satisfaction,” he said.
Dr Lishimpi said the initiative forms part of the government’s commitment to provide equitable access to cost effective and quality health care services as close to the families as possible.
He further directed all health facilities to immediately implement strict patient flow monitoring and ensure that every patient file is clearly stamped with the time of arrival at the hospital.
“Time is a valuable resource for patients because delays undermine confidence, dignity and quality of care,” he said.
Dr Lishimpi stressed that adherence to service delivery charter was not optional but a mandatory requirement under the charter and the Ministry’s monitory and evaluation framework.
Meanwhile, Eastern Province Deputy Permanent Secretary, Lewis Mwape, said the recent recruitment of additional healthcare workers by the government will support the implementation of the service delivery charter.
Dr Mwape said there is a need to establish a strong feedback system, as well as effective monitoring and evaluation mechanism to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of the Service Delivery Charter.
