17 Dec 2024

The Assistant Minister of Health, Mr Lawrence Ookeditse says government is determined to address challenges of inadequate resources and poor management in public hospitals.

He informed Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital (NRH) staff during his visit to the facility on Monday that the government had sufficient funds, but the problem lied in flawed planning and administrative processes. 

“Certain individuals engaged in corruption are siphoning funds meant for essential services,” he stated, adding that this would cease under the new administration. 

Regarding the upcoming national insurance fund, Mr Ookeditse said government would prioritise efficient planning to ensure successful implementation of the insurance scheme. 

He highlighted the government's commitment to human rights-based healthcare policies, including patient-centred care. 

Staff at the hospital voiced numerous concerns which included lack of staff accommodation, inadequate training and support for nurses, and delays in implementation of a new nursing structure, delays in paying acting allowances, sometimes exceeding a year. 

Others, they said ,were the exodus of nurses and doctors seeking better working conditions, the late renewal of expatriate doctors' contracts, and inadequate hospital maintenance. 

NRH Superintendent, Dr Ivan Kgetse echoed the staff concerns, adding that the hospital had been consistently under-resourced. 

He argued that NRH's catchment area was significantly larger than that of the Princess Marina Hospital, yet NRH received disproportionately fewer resources. 

Dr Kgetse stressed the need for better resource allocation to NRH, noting that it was an organisation, not a department, hence should be treated as such. 

He also advocated for the National Blood Transfusion Centre's autonomy, thereby removing the financial burden of travel expenses from NRH. ENDS