Major changes at King Faisal Hospital

King Faisal Hospital Kigali is set to undergo a string of major changes to improve the performance of the hospital, following a government decision to give the health facility autonomy.Among the key changes, the facility will change its name to King Faisal Hospital, Rwanda.According to the Minister of Public Service and Labour, Anastase Murekezi, about 80 will be laid off.Murekezi, who made the announcement on Wednesday said the hospital would bring in another 110 expert medics from other countries to replace those who got below 50 per cent in their performance appraisals.According to the minister, staff that scored 60 per cent will be given new contracts but in the meantime they will be entitled to only two thirds of their salary.If six months elapse before they are re-appointed, the minister explained, then they will be laid off with terminal benefits.Management then explained that the expatriates were replaced by Rwandans who had returned from abroad upon completion of their studies.At the same event, the Prime Minister, Dr Pierre Damien Habumuremyi, said the transfer means that all employees of the hospital would freshly be appointed and whoever does not fit in the new structure would be helped to find other jobs by the Ministry of Health.The Premier noted that the changes are geared at improving service delivery in the hospital.“The laying off of some employees doesn’t mean that they haven’t been working hard but all the changes are aimed at improving service delivery. We shall not rest until we have achieved our mandate of improving quality services in management and for the people who seek services from this hospital,” he said.King Faisal Hospital has in the past elicited most complaints from patients about the nature of services, prompting most to seek better services elsewhere.Hospital now private companyAfter seven months of restructuring, the hospital is now registered as a private company with the Office of the Registrar General of Companies at Rwanda Development Board. This development followed cabinet approval on February 22, 2013.Agnes Binagwaho, the Minister of Health said, “We want the hospital to be a centre of excellence in Rwanda and the region at large. We hope that the changes suit the needs of the population.”The Prime Minister called upon King Faisal Hospital Rwanda staff to work towards improving the services and image of the hospital to cut referrals for treatment abroad.

National

Major changes at King Faisal Hospital