Biometric System in all medical facilities soon
Abiometric system will soon be rolled out for all medical facilities.
This was confirmed by Minister for Health and Medical Services Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete yesterday as he toured Vanua Levu.
He could not say what form in which it will be implemented.
Biometric verification can identify a person by one or more distinguishing biological traits, like fingerprints, hand geometry and facial features, voice waves, DNA, and signatures.
He said Sigatoka Hospital had biometric systems “where the staff punch in when they arrive at work and punch out when they finish work.”
“We are going to roll out this system not to police staff but to lift professionalism,” Dr Waqainabete said.
“We need to realise that there are institutions, organisations and Government departments having this system for transparency. So we should not be different. “Such kinds of systems will ensure that we have more honesty around the workplace,” he explained.
“We need to make sure that the staff are coming in and leaving at the specified time.
More importantly the hospital can’t be left vacant.
“It’s a way of realising, for example if we get a complainant saying that there was no doctor or nurse at a particular health facility when they visited, then we can check in the system for clarification.
“It is sad that we have to go this way but if it brings about more honesty and transparency then we have to do it.”
Dr Waqainabete was back to familiar territory yesterday.
23 years ago Dr Waqainabete worked at Vanua Levu hospitals as a medical student. Yesterday he visited them, Labasa Hospital, Savusavu Subdivisional Hospital and Nabouwalu Subdivisional Hospital as minister.
He said he felt good to return to the medical facilities.
At Savusavu, he told the staff that over the years good work had been done.
“The most important thing is that we understand the maintenance and renovation is an ongoing issue,” Dr Waqainabete said. “During my visit I am trying to get the staff to realise that such things need to be updated and we are nearly half way through into financial year.
“We can’t miss out on some important areas which need maintenance.
“We need to make sure that facilities are up to par and good to accommodate patients and staff,” he said.
“The Government has set aside funds for our ministry for renovation and new development. I am not only visiting health facilities in the country but also informing staff what is our vision. It is to provide quality care not only in cities, but in the towns and rural communities.
“We want to decentralise service so that people don’t struggle or feel different.”
For example if we get a complainant saying that there was no doctor or nurse at a particular health facility when they visited, then we can check in the system for clarification. Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete Minister for Health and Medical Services