Question NW893 to the Minister of Health
21 April 2023 - NW893
Wilson, Ms ER to ask the Minister of Health
(1)Whether he will furnish Mrs E R Wilson with the approved (a) Fraud Prevention Plan and (b) Whistle Blowing Policy Statement of his department; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) on what date was the Fraud Prevention Plan and Whistle Blowing Policy Statement (a) adopted and (b) implemented nationally and in each province; (3) what is the strategy of his department to protect whistle blowers; (4) whether the specified strategy has been adopted (a) nationally and (b) in each province; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (5) whether he will furnish Mrs E R Wilson with a full report on the outcomes of the strategy to protect whistle blowers in (a) the national department and (b) each provincial department?
Reply:
1. (a) Yes, such a plan and policy statement exists as part of departmental policy framework in instances of fraud and corruption which remain a constant threat to public trust and confidence;
(b) The policy plan and whistle-blowing statement are indeed part of the policy implementation process wherein once developed, they get reviewed to keep with developments in government programmes and legislation from time to time. Dates of adoption and endorsement vary at operational level, for instance endorsement at the National Department was approved on 11 February 2022.
2. Each province has its own policies based on national policy statements as adopted, and vary on dates as developed, reviewed and adopted, according to the existing risk management and prevention as an integral part of strategic management of each province, and are available for scrutiny when so needed.
3. The National Department of Health is currently working with other stakeholders to conduct risk assessment that will determine whether there is need for whistle-blower protection or to strengthen the current exiting measures and mechanisms in Government. Thereafter the outcome will determine the way forward.
4. There are a number of strategies that exist based on national laws and policy frameworks, which get considered when policies are developed and reviewed when necessary and such will vary from time to time, such as the current collaboration the National Department of Health is involved in to enhance the current processes through assessment of risk.
5. It is common practice that upon finalizing any collaborative assignment, it is incumbent and becomes essential that the National Department of Health and its stakeholders share the good practice through available mechanisms by adopting a comprehensive approach to benefit the public and interested parties.
END.