Hargeisa (SLpost)- Members of the Standing Committee on Ethics and Oversight of Somaliland’s House of Representatives met with senior officials from the Ministry of Health Development on Saturday to review the performance of the country’s healthcare sector, examine ongoing reforms, and discuss priorities for strengthening public health services.
The oversight session, held at the Ministry’s headquarters in Hargeisa, was led by Committee Chairman Mahmoud Khaire Duale and attended by the Minister of Health Development, the Deputy Minister, directors, and other senior officials responsible for implementing the government’s health policies.
The meeting formed part of Parliament’s constitutional oversight mandate, which empowers standing committees to scrutinize the work of public institutions, assess policy implementation, and ensure government ministries remain accountable for delivering essential public services. Although the House of Representatives is currently in recess, parliamentary committees continue carrying out monitoring and oversight activities throughout the break.
Opening the session, Chairman Duale said the Committee’s objective was to obtain a comprehensive assessment of the health sector’s current performance and gain a clearer understanding of the Ministry’s progress, operational challenges, and future priorities.
The Committee sought updates on a wide range of issues, including the availability of healthcare services, implementation of national health programmes, expansion of primary healthcare, management of public hospitals, access to medicines and medical equipment, and efforts to improve services in remote and underserved communities.
Members also requested information on the Ministry’s strategic plans to strengthen disease prevention, improve maternal and child healthcare, enhance emergency response capacity, expand the health workforce, and improve coordination with regional health authorities and development partners.
Responding to the lawmakers’ questions, the Ministry’s leadership presented an extensive briefing on the state of Somaliland’s healthcare system. Officials highlighted progress made in expanding health infrastructure, increasing access to essential services, strengthening institutional capacity, and implementing reforms aimed at improving the quality, efficiency, and sustainability of healthcare delivery.
The Ministry acknowledged that the sector continues to face significant challenges, including rising demand for healthcare services, shortages of specialized medical personnel, pressure on healthcare facilities, and the need for additional investment in infrastructure, medical equipment, and workforce development. Officials said these issues remain central to the Ministry’s long-term planning and reform agenda.
Discussions also focused on improving governance within the health sector, strengthening financial management, enhancing service quality through better monitoring and evaluation, and ensuring public health programmes are implemented effectively across all regions of Somaliland.
At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides reaffirmed the importance of maintaining close cooperation between Parliament and the Ministry to support evidence-based policymaking and strengthen institutional accountability. They agreed that regular oversight engagements provide an important platform for evaluating government performance, identifying policy gaps, and ensuring that health sector reforms translate into tangible improvements in healthcare services for Somaliland’s growing population.
The meeting forms part of the House of Representatives’ broader oversight programme, through which parliamentary committees conduct regular reviews of government ministries and agencies to monitor implementation of national policies, evaluate institutional performance, and promote accountability in the management of public resources.
SOURCE: Somalilandpost News
