Ministry for Energy and Health (Health) Annual Report 2014 Annual Report 2014 Ministry for Energy and Health (Health) Page 1 Office of the Permanent Secretary During 2014, the Ministry sustained its efforts to shift our health system towards a more patient- centric wellness model within the available budgetary resources while simultaneously ensuring general and timely access to the highest quality of health care services. The Ministry not only maintained its progressive momentum but consolidated its efforts to invest in workforce development, notably through the creation of senior positions, innovation and enhancement for in service-delivery, thereby enabling health professionals to better respond to the challenges ahead, cost effectively. A number of Board and Committees have been set up which helped to secure the management of the Ministry’s vast portfolio and in addressing critical issues. In the period under review, the following assume utmost significance in the realisation of Government’s mandate to provide meaningful input for the overall success of the National Health services: the completion of the first phase of the Sir Anthony Mamo Oncology Centre; the refurbishment of several wards within Karen Grech Hospital and the Amputee Rehabilitation Unit, the set up of psychology services for patients and staff; the continued excellence in the service provision, particularly in the reduction of waiting times at Mater Dei Hospital, new plans for three additional floors that would cater for the immediate to medium term acute bed requirements, the introduction of robust IT tools that improved clinical care pathways in line with international standards and last but not least, a concerted effort to increase day care activity. Additional services in the Gozo General Hospital ensured timelier access to the health services for the Gozitan patients. This initiative also produced a positive impact on the waiting-times and bed occupancy management at Mater Dei Hospital as patient were treated closer to their community. Furthermore, in line with Government’s plan, preparations are underway to position the Gozo General Hospital as a centre of medical excellence in the Mediterranean. The reform programme initiated within the Primary Health Care Services in preparation of positioning the Health Centres as the first comprehensive NHS contact points in the community. The refurbishment started within the Floriana and Paola Health Centres and modernising equipment was also installed. The infrastructure and technological investment within the Central Procurement Unit as part of the overall supply chain strategy framework to address the perennial out of stock situation across the NHS. This set-up together with the technological change is already reaping results through the integration in the areas of customer/client management, procurement, warehousing and logistics. The establishment of the POYC Unit’s One-Stop Shop Services to bring a wider scope of services closer to the patient thereby facilitating access to treatment on a ‘same day service’ from the 3 to 4 weeks wait. Annual Report 2014 Ministry for Energy and Health (Health) Page 2 In summary, 2014 proved to be a year of change and exciting challenges for the Ministry. As we embark on a new financial year, we will continue to work together towards our ultimate goal – ensuring all the population can access timely, efficient and high quality health care as close to their community as possible. In closing, I would like to thank the management and the staff for their ongoing support, dedication, competence and integrity which attributes are unrivalled and indeed a critical asset for our ongoing success. Joseph Rapa Permanent Secretary Annual Report 2014 Ministry for Energy and Health (Health) Page 3 MANAGEMENT SUPPORT DIRECTORATE The Management Support Directorate within the Office of the Permanent Secretary provides close horizontal co-operation across the different Directorates, Entities and Hospitals within the Ministry, to link up work and initiatives undertaken; and to strive to strengthen the link with important stakeholders. The Directorate also assists the Permanent Secretary by anticipating issues, provides information and advice and encourages a climate wherein management and staff can work effectively together to ensure the implementation of decisions, policies, projects, long-term strategic direction, and contribute towards the Ministry’s goals. Relocation of Departments During the year under review, the Directorate undertook several initiatives to relocate a number of departments that where housed in rented premises from the private sector. The main aim of this initiative was to reduce rental cost, make the best use of existing office space and to have departments in close proximity as much as possible for a better service delivery and to make the best use of resources. For this result, the Management Support Directorate spearheaded the relocation of the Human Resource Department from Harper Lane Floriana to Head Office Valletta. This not only involved the logistical arrangements and transportation of office furniture, equipment and files but also, staff buy in. Another project which the Directorate embarked upon was the relocation of the Occupational Health Unit from Evans Building to St Luke’s. The relocation involved the refurbishment of a wing on the ground floor of St Luke’s to house this Unit. The work which was carried in-house by St Luke’s maintenance personnel involved structural changes, redecoration and new electrical and network installations. During the same period, the Directorate took up the refurbishment of part of the ground floor within the Out-Patients Block at St Luke’s to relocate the Entitlement Unit from Head Office, Valletta. This relocation was necessary for health clients to be served from one location. Therefore, clients could benefit from having a number of services housed within one location. The refurbishment on the ground floor involved the dismantling and relocation of the Registry archive from the ground floor and relocating it within another area in St Luke’s, the procurement processes for electricity, IT, fire-alarm system, air-conditioning, doors, toilets, office furniture, kitchen, heavy maintenance on apertures and polishing of floors. This project was completed on time and within budget. The Embryo Protection Authority was also provided with office accommodation at St Luke’s to start its operation since the offices vacated at Harper Lane, which were earmarked for the Authority require major repairs by the lessor, which work is subject to MEPA approval. During 2014, the Management Support Directorate through direct negotiations with the Ministry for Transport and Infrastructure resurfaced the road and the boundary walls leading to the Orthotics and Prosthetics Unit within St Luke’s. This road was in a very dangerous state of disrepair and a hazard to pedestrians. The Ministry for Transport and Infrastructure carried out both the architectural services and the repairs free of charge through Transport Malta as its contribution to the health sector. The cost was estimated at € 80K. Annual Report 2014 Ministry for Energy and Health (Health) Page 4 The Ministry was requested to loan the old kitchen at St Luke’s to Malta Enterprise to use for archiving purposes as their premises in St Venera were required. The Directorate was therefore tasked with clearing it. This required relocating an extensive amount of stores, making an inventory of all the unused items, set up a Board to dispose of the unserviceable items and to issue an expression of interest to sell any scrap metal. The above was carried out and the old kitchen transferred to Malta Enterprise. Quarantine Following the Ebola out-break, the Directorate was directly involved in identifying suitable premises to be used for quarantine purposes. The quarantine area needed to have facilities for everyday living of the person and theoretically could be anywhere as persons were not infectious, however due to the lay person’s perspective, the quarantine area merited the location to be in a remote area and not in very close proximity to residencies. One needs to bear in mind that Malta does not have quarantine facilities and in today’s possibility of emerging threats, it was felt that such a requirement needed to be catered for. This included approaching the private sector, church institutions and Government Department particularly the Government Property Division, since an expression of interest that was issued did not materialise as no submissions were received. Employment Equal Opportunities The Directorate promoted equal employment opportunities by encouraging Departments that had been requesting clerical support to obtain a placement from a private company through a one-year contract. The aim was to give job-seekers with a disability the opportunity to obtain on the job training. The private company, offered on the job monitoring and training. Three directorates took up this initiative and employed 2 employees on full time basis and four on part-time for a duration of one year. Boards and Committees During 2014, the Directorate ensured that Boards and Committees were set up in line with regulations and that all appointees were approved by the Cabinet in line with procedure. This task is carried out in collaboration with the Parliamentary and Minister’s Secretariat. The Directorate was also tasked with identifying suitable personnel to be nominated on Boards set up within other Ministries