The Anambra State government says it has commenced the installation of clock-in devices in public health facilities to curb absenteeism and ensure that health workers take their duties seriously.
Afam Obidike, the Commissioner for Health, said this in Awka during a meeting with administrators of public hospitals in the state.
The commissioner said the device would end absenteeism and indolence among health workers.
“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,” Mr Obidike said.
He said Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration takes health care seriously and wants residents to have access to quality services at the 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,” he said.
Mr Obidike observed that during unannounced hospital visits, many health workers were absent while some health facilities did not open for services.
According to him, such an attitude has contributed to mortality rates recorded in the state and hindered progress in the health sector.
“The goal is to eliminate maternal and infant mortality, as well as restore the confidence of our people in the healthcare services we provide in the state,” he said.
The commissioner also said the government was digitising healthcare services through telemedicine and strengthening referral systems 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 to have access to different doctors,” he said.
Mr Obidike urged the hospital administrators to hold weekly clinical and mortality reviews and report the same to the ministry for appropriate actions.