Finance Minister Professor Biman Prasad has urged the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Civil Service to resolve the issues arising from recent changes to the overtime and Time Off in Lieu (TOIL) policy affecting civil servants. He affirmed that the budget allocated to the Ministry of Health is not only sufficient but also adequately considers all necessary resources, including overtime pay.
According to Prof Prasad, there should not be any shortage of funds that would hinder the delivery of health services. He stated, “If there are issues with respect to process and procedures with the Public Service Commission or the Ministry of Civil Service, then that’s something that the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Civil Service ought to sort out. We do not expect shortages or difficulties in service delivery due to funding issues.”
He addressed concerns regarding shortages in radiology and pharmacy staff linked to the policy changes, reiterating that funding is not the problem. “I am very clear that there is sufficient funding to ensure that there is no disruption to services that are supposed to be provided by the Ministry of Health to the people,” he stated, emphasizing that the responsibility lies in the hands of the ministries to ensure resource availability.
This call for collaboration between the Ministries points toward a constructive approach to resolving the challenges being faced, which is a positive sign for public service efficiency and health care delivery in the country.
In summary, Professor Prasad stresses the importance of teamwork between the health and civil service ministries to effectively manage resources and ensure uninterrupted health services for the people, a reminder of the critical need for effective governance in public health.
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