COLLABORATE TO IMPROVE KWARA IGR, KW-IRS BOSS CHARGES HMB

The duo of Kwara State Hospital Management Board (KW-HMB) and Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KW-IRS) participated in a seminar themed “Enhancing Effective Revenue Drive through the State-Owned Hospitals in Kwara State” held at the Corporate Head Office of KW-IRS in Ilorin on 16th May 2023.

Giving her opening remarks at the seminar, the KW-IRS Executive Chairman, Shade Omoniyi welcomed and appreciated all representatives from hospitals across the State for their relentless efforts in the areas of professional service delivery and revenue mobilization for Kwara, emphasizing that illicit revenue collections and diversion of revenue due to the State government into private pockets in all its forms, unethical referral of patients to external service providers, conspiracy between revenue staff and hospital staff to shortchange the government, teeming, and lading, selling of medical consumables for personal gains among others are punishable offenses.

Delivering the first paper on “Overview of Hospital Collection in Kwara State”, Shade Omoniyi applauded Hospital Management Board (HMB) for the improvement in hospital collections and other achievements, charging members of the HMB and participants, that there will always be room for improvement.

The KW-IRS boss added that there is a need to maintain the integrity of healthcare delivery in the State, support IGR drive and growth through collaboration, and elimination of unethical practices that can shortchange the future of Kwara and sabotage the government’s efforts and developmental agenda.

Reiterating the relationship between the two government agencies, Shade Omoniyi stated some of the innovations of the Service under the administration of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, in automation of all revenue lines; hospitals inclusive, and support to HMB in the area of deployment of Point-of-Sales terminals (POS) to hospital collection points, integration of the approved State’s payment gateway with the Hospital Management System to enhance effective and efficient revenue drive, donation of desktops, POS cash register and scanners, cash drawers, thermal and barcode printers, and UPS to enhance automation drive and service delivery.

In her paper presentation, the Project Manager of the Kwara State Essential Drugs Project (EDP), Pharmacist Lovette Oladele stated that inventory management is essential for timely delivery of drugs and all other medical consumables. She further explained that the use of tally cards will help medical officers in units across the State-owned hospitals to monitor and ensure drugs are not out of stock before making the necessary request.

The EDP Project Manager advised hospital officers to collaborate with medical professionals in all areas that would bring development to healthcare delivery and growth to Kwara State by ensuring everyone takes ownership of the job, commitment to frequent check of expiration dates on drugs and other consumables, and keeping ordering levels to avoid stock out and undue referral of patients to other medical facilities.

In their separate presentations, the Controller, Finance and Account, HMB, Tejidini Abdulwahab, and Head Audit, EDP Abdulrahaman Abdullateef, discussed the essence of book-keeping and reconciliation of services accessed by patients alongside revenue collected, emphasizing that only the revenue staff of KW-IRS is allowed to collect and receive all payments from patients.

The Director, Legal and Compliance, KW-IRS, Shehu Mogaji Abdullahi in his presentation, charged participants to desist from any form of irregularities and illegal behaviors that could tarnish their image and cost them their jobs.
Shehu Mogaji explained all relevant laws as applicable to revenue offenses and penalties and reiterated that the Service is backed up by law and has the mandate to prosecute anyone culpable of any unethical behavior.

In his reaction and closing remarks at the seminar, the Executive Secretary of Hospital Management Board, Dr. Abdulraheem Malik, appreciated KW-IRS under the leadership of Shade Omoniyi for its unwavering support and collaboration, re-stating the importance of the seminar to all,  which is geared towards better service delivery and blocking revenue leakages to have an improved IGR to aid developed system and State.

Dr. Abdulraheem Malik submitted that the Board would leave no stone unturned in blocking revenue leakages in all State-owned hospitals by continually sensitizing staff in all hospitals under his supervision to ensure adequate records of patients and all revenue receipts are accurately documented for easy reconciliation.

The meeting had contributions from participants from all departments in the State-owned hospitals, the Top Management Team, and Staff of KW-IRS.

Signed
Corporate Affairs Department, KW- IRS
17/05/2023