Ministry of Health and Medical Services Advances Provincial Health Accounting Reform

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) with the support of global fund and Australia is advancing a major reform of the Provincial Health Accounting System to strengthen transparency, accountability, efficiency, governance and the reliability of public financial management across the health sector in Solomon Islands.

The reform forms part of the Ministry’s broader commitment to improving financial governance and ensuring that public funds allocated to provincial health services and church-operated health facilities are properly accounted for, effectively monitored, and accurately reported in a timely manner. It will also strengthen the Ministry executives, Provincial health directors and other key stakeholders the ability to analyse budgets and expenditure by economic line items, divisions and funding source, while identifying cost pressures and financing gaps across provincial health services.

Key component of the reform is the transition of the MYOB accounting platform from a desktop-based system to a modern cloud and web-based environment. And a comprehensive review and harmonization of the chart of accounting, cost centres, jobs, and payroll. That will strengthen the alignment between the National Financial Information System (D365) and MYOB.

The migration is expected to improve real-time financial reporting, data accessibility, oversight, reconciliation processes, and system security across provincial health services. The Finance team at the national level will access to real time monitoring and oversight of the income and spending at the PHS remotely at Headquarter online rather than heavy relay on manual submission from individual province and church owned facility.

The Deputy Secretary Corporate, Mr. Layten Jacob says “this reform will strengthen the systems and support needed to deliver better results across provincial health services. It will enhance our ability to monitor resources more effectively, improve decision-making, and ensure public funds achieve the greatest possible impact”.

This reform is supported by MYOB Expert Mr. Mahendra Prasad from New Zealand, Mr Michael Mike, Health Finance Specialist engaged by ASIPS, and Ms. Esmy Magu, MHMS Chief Provincial Accountant.

Michael Mike, reviewing and looking at the proposed chart of accounting and spending at provincial health services.

Mahendra and Esmy registering and setting up user access in Good Samaritan Hospital.

Team meeting with Provincial accountant