The Anambra State Government has said it has started installing clock-in devices in public health institutions to reduce employee absenteeism and laziness.
The Commissioner for Health, Afam Obidike, said this in Awka during a meeting with administrators of public hospital in the state.
Obidike said that during some of his unexpected visits to hospitals, he observed that many health workers were absent and some medical facilities did not open, NAN report.
He stated that such attitude has contributed to mortalities recorded in the state and hindered progress in the health sector, adding that Gov. Soludo administration takes healthcare seriously and wants residents to have access to quality health services at the primary health centres, general hospitals and the tertiary health facilities.
“This is part of the reasons for the installation of the clock-in device in all government hospitals; it is to ensure that healthcare workers are at their duty posts to attend to the health needs of the people.
“The device will also be used to monitor the hours health workers put in each day and that will subsequently determine their monthly salaries and allowances.
“The goal is to eliminate maternal and infants mortalities, as well as restore the confidence of our people in the healthcare services we provide in the state,” he said.
Obidike also said the government was digitalising healthcare services through telemedicine as well as strengthening referral system among the hospitals in the state.
“We are establishing the ‘Hub and Spoke’ approach for proper networking among the hospitals. The telemedicine will also allow primary healthcare centres have access to different doctors.
“We are strengthening at least one general hospital in each local government area so that primary health centres can refer patients when the need arises.
“The state government is doing all it can with limited resources and as healthcare providers we cannot afford to fail,” he said.
He then called on hospital administrators to hold weekly clinical and mortality reviews and report same to the ministry for appropriate actions.