DAR ES SALAAM: THE government has provided 5bn/- to three hospitals to cover the cost of specialised medical services given to patients who cannot afford them.
The hospitals which received the funds include Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH), Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI) and Dodoma-based Benjamin Mkapa Hospital.
Minister for Health, Ms Ummy Mwalimu revealed this yesterday after receiving a report of the patients who benefited from the fund at MNH.
“A total of 28 patients have benefited from the funding including 16 children who underwent cochlear implants, six patients who received kidney transplant and six who underwent bone marrow transplants,” said Ms Ummy.
“The government provided the money to help Tanzanians who need specialised treatments but cannot afford the cost of the services,” said Ms Mwalimu.
The minister said massive investment undertaken by the government in the health sector has facilitated availability of all important services including routine, specialised and super specialised services in the country.
The government invested heavily in health service provision infrastructure, medical equipment and supplies as well as training of medical personnel.
She said that the specialised and super-specialised medical services are part of the project that began in the 2023/24 financial year, to save lives of many Tanzanians thus strengthening the country’s position as a healthcare hub for medical tourism.
Ms Mwalimu directed medical personnel working in district and regional health facilities to give referrals to patients who have received treatment but they are not recovering so that they receive specialised care as soon as possible at referral and national hospitals.
She said, “I am satisfied with how the funds have been used to help these 28 patients who needed specialised and super-specialised medical care. You can extend these services to the regions by empowering local health specialists.”
On his part, MNH Executive Director Prof Mohamed Janabi said that the government dished out 2.6bn/- to the hospital to cover the cost for the services offered to the respective patients.
“Of the 2.6 bn/- a total of 1.5 bn/- has already been used in the first phase which covered the 28 patients,” said Prof Janabi.
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He said Tanzanian doctors performed all the surgeries since they were capacitated through various training programmes.
Prof Janabi said, “Since the introduction of the services at the hospital in 2017, it has performed kidney transplant to 100 patients at Muhimbili-Upanga and Muhimbili-Mloganzila and they are all donated by their relatives as per the law.”
MNH Head of Internal Medicine and Kidney Diseases, Dr Jonathan Mngumi said that 90 per cent of the patients who have undergone kidney transplant recovered and are now continuing with their daily routines.
Furthermore, Dr Mbonea Yonaz, Director of Clinical Services from MNH, said that the patients who undergo bone marrow transplant are placed under medical monitoring for six months.
