By DALCY LULUA
Secretary for Health Dr. Osborne Liko has emphasized the significant challenges faced in public finance capacity building that need government intervention.
During his speech, Dr. Liko outlined six key challenges: Technical Skills Gap: Developing and maintaining financial management skills among public officials is crucial. Many officials face a shortage of qualified professionals who understand complex financial systems, budgeting, and accounting practices; Institutional Weakness: Strengthening institutions responsible for public finance management is essential.
Weak governance structures, lack of transparency, and inadequate accountability mechanisms hinder effective capacity building; Political Will and Commitment: Sustained commitment from political leaders is necessary for successful capacity-building efforts.
Without high-level support, reforms may stall or face resistance; Resource Constraints: Limited financial resources can impede capacity-building initiatives. Allocating funds for training, technology, and infrastructure can be particularly challenging in low-income countries; Changing Contexts: Public finance systems operate in dynamic environments.
Adapting to technological advancements, evolving regulations, and global economic shifts requires continuous learning and flexibility; and, Coordination and Collaboration: Coordinating efforts across different government agencies, international organizations, and development partners is complex. Effective collaboration is essential for successful capacity building.
These challenges were highlighted during Dr Liko’s opening remarks before signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Finance (DoF) for the Provincial Capacity Building Program (PCaB). This initiative aims to enhance financial management across all Provincial Health Authorities (PHAs) in the country.
Dr. Liko said addressing these challenges requires a multifaceted approach involving policy reforms, training programs, and sustained commitment.
“This MoU underscores the critical need for improved public finance management capacity in the health sector to strengthen health systems and achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC),” Dr. Liko said.
“We look forward to seeing effective Public Financial Management (PFM) outcomes.”
Acting Deputy Secretary for Finance Tom Tiki also acknowledged that capacity building is a major issue and expressed optimism about the MoU.
“One of the significant problems we face is capacity building. While we have programs like the Pick-Up Program running, we still face challenges,” Mr. Tiki said. “Signing this MoU is a crucial step in the right direction.”
