The Ministry of Health, Wellness, Environment and Civil Service Affairs has commenced its internal budget preparation process with a strategic planning session designed to equip senior management with the tools and guidance necessary to develop comprehensive and results-driven budget submissions for the upcoming fiscal year.
The session, facilitated by officials from the Ministry of Finance, brought together Heads of Department, Division Managers and accounting personnel to provide guidance on the Government’s budget preparation process and the requirements for developing budget estimates. The estimates will be submitted to the Ministry of Finance for review and consideration as part of the Government’s national budget preparation process ahead of the Budget Debate later this year.
Addressing participants, Minister for Health, Wellness, Environment and Civil Service Affairs, Michael Joseph, stressed that budgeting should never be viewed as simply assigning figures to projects, but rather as an opportunity to strategically shape the future of the Ministry.
“Project development requires much more than simply putting numbers to a budget. It begins with having a clear vision of where your department is going and what you want to achieve. The budget should build on what has already been accomplished and provide a roadmap for moving the Ministry forward,” the Minister said.
Drawing on his extensive background in the private sector, Minister Joseph highlighted the importance of strategic planning and disciplined budgeting in achieving organizational success.
“I have much more experience in the private sector than I do in the public sector, and I understand just how important planning and budgeting are if you want to move an organization forward. I believe that if we adopt that same level of planning and discipline within the public sector, we can place this Ministry, the Government and the country in a much stronger position to achieve its objectives.”
The Minister reminded participants that resources will always be limited, regardless of the size of a budget allocation, making innovation, creativity and careful prioritization essential.
“It doesn’t matter whether you receive one million dollars or one billion dollars; there will always be more that needs to be done than the resources available. That is why we must be innovative in how we plan, prioritize and deliver programmes and services.”
Minister Joseph further described the Ministry as one of the Government’s most critical portfolios, citing its responsibility for safeguarding public health, protecting the environment, addressing the impacts of climate change and supporting the country’s public service.
He challenged Heads of Department, Division Managers and senior technical officers to develop budgets that are strategic, forward-looking and aligned with the Ministry’s long-term vision, while pushing the boundaries of innovation and maximizing the impact of every available resource.
Permanent Secretary, Stacey Gregg-Paige expressed sincere appreciation to the Ministry of Finance for facilitating the engagement and providing valuable guidance to the Ministry’s management and finance teams.
She noted that the session marks an important first step in the Ministry’s budget preparation process and will help ensure that departmental submissions are comprehensive, strategically aligned and responsive to national priorities.
The Ministry of Health, Wellness, Environment and Civil Service Affairs looks forward to continued collaboration with the Ministry of Finance as preparations advance towards the submission of the Ministry’s budget estimates for review and approval ahead of the Government’s Budget Debate later this year
This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: Ministry of Health Launches Budget Preparation Process with Strategic Planning Session in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance.