The National Capital District Provincial Health Authority (NCDPHA) has launched its Governance Committee Charter and Terms of Reference, introducing a governance framework to strengthen accountability, transparency and decision making across the organisation.
The charter was launched at the City Boutique Hotel in Port Moresby by Deputy Secretary for Compliance and Standards Dr. Dora Lenturut, representing Health Secretary Pascoe Kase. Approved by the NCDPHA Board, it is the first major policy launched under Chief Executive Officer Dr. Robin Oge and supports the authority's vision of "Healthy people, thriving communities in the NCD and Motu Koita areas."
Dr. Oge said the charter establishes a clear system for decision making, assigning responsibilities and managing risks as NCDPHA continues to grow.
"The purpose is to give a clear and consistent system. Part of management's responsibility is to create a system for us in making decisions, managing risks, assigning clear responsibility and ownership of those decisions, and then holding those who have that responsibility accountable for the results, whether it's success or failure."
He said the document removes uncertainty around committee responsibilities and reporting lines.
"We must know who is responsible for what, which committee should consider an issue, how recommendations should reach the senior executive management, and how those decisions must be recorded, communicated and implemented."
The framework covers clinical services, public health, corporate services, finance, audit, risk management and partnerships while outlining reporting structures and governance procedures.
Dr. Oge urged managers to put the charter into practice.
"Good governance does not simply mean having more meetings. It means that the right people are considering the right issues with the right information and then making the right and timely decisions that are followed through."
He also announced that NCDPHA had secured its Health Services Improvement Program (HSIP) Trust Account after several years of work.
"We've been fighting for this account for the last three or four years, and we finally got it two weeks ago."
He said the new HSIP Finance Committee will oversee the management of those funds and reminded staff that the document would only succeed if it is implemented.
"I expect all of you to read it, understand it and apply it."
Dr. Oge said while patients may have never read the governance charter, they would benefit from the systems it creates.
"Our patients will never read this book, but they will experience the results that come out from the systems and processes embedded in this book."
Dr. Lenturut described the charter as a living document that will guide NCDPHA for years to come.
"One thing I noticed when I picked up this book is that it has no time frame. It is a living document."
She said effective healthcare depends on strong corporate, clinical and public health governance and reminded staff that leadership exists at every level of the organization.
"It doesn't mean that if the officer in charge is not there, there is no leadership. Each of us is a leader in our own right."
The governance charter is expected to strengthen leadership, accountability and decision making across NCDPHA while supporting improved healthcare services for people in the National Capital District and the Motu Koita Assembly areas.
