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{
    "id": 1286231,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1286231/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 436,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Abbas",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. This Bill takes interest of public health facilities and takes care of the funds charged to the public. It also improves finances of health centres and the management of health facilities. Its justification is in the PFM Act. This Bill ring-fences money generated by health facilities. It also guarantees patients to get services in every health facility wherever they may be, including Level 4 hospitals. It regulates health facilities and delegates legitimate powers to management committees. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, this is a good Bill that gives time to health facilities to do services at their levels. However, I have my fears with the retaining funds at the lowest level. Keeping money in these facilities, not depositing it and not accounting for it might encourage theft. Here we are saying that the same people will keep money collected by these facilities. This might encourage corruption and misuse of funds. This Bill is a good idea, but we need to have proper oversight mechanisms put in place. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I have a case in my county where we have water-user associations who have men at the boreholes. These boreholes are managed by these associations. The same people collect funds and every animal is charged when they drink water, but this money cannot be accounted for. Keeping money in health facilities where money is being paid will bring corruption. We need to improve on this Bill on how we can manage the available funds. As it is, it might give many loopholes for money to be stolen. Finally, some of these facilities are not able to generate enough funds to take care of their needs, including buying enough drugs or paying their staff. Therefore, governors might use this as an excuse to not give money to those health facilities because they are collecting their money and yet, the people in that area cannot afford to pay for health services. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard Services,Senate."
}