Saturday, May 23, 2015

MPs fault handling of 10bn/- NHIF loan fund


National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF)
Despite the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) setting aside 10bn/-  annually as loans for public and private hospitals the money was still lying  idle, the house heard yesterday.
 
The hospitals could use the loans to procure essential medical supplies and  other related equipment, Health and Social Welfare Deputy Minister Steven  Kebwe said.
He therefore urged district, referral and mission hospitals countrywide to  apply for the funds in order to improve the delivery of health services.
The Deputy Minister was responding to concerns echoed by Chadema MPs Joseph  Salasini (Rombo) and Pauline Gekul (Special Seats) on the shortage of  equipment and essential medicine in hospitals.
 
Citing shortage and defective X-rays in district hospitals, especially Mrara  Hospital in Babati, Gekul wondered why the government had contracted one  agent called Philips. She also said there was no effort to address the  problem.
 
“People are suffering and the equipment breaks down regularly, why has the  government been using a single agent despite having shortcomings?” she  wondered.
 
The lawmaker was supported by her party colleague representing Rombo, Joseph  Salasini, who urged the government to have mobile X-rays. He said these  would help hospitals because road accidents were rising in both rural and  urban areas.
 
Salasini proposed that the government should come up with modalities to  support private hospitals access equipment and help people access health  care at their doorsteps.
 
In response, Dr Kebwe said the government, through NIHF, has set aside the  amount during this financial year to allow both private and public hospitals  purchase essential medicine and related facilities.
 
“It is the duty of hospitals to apply for the loan at the ministry. Even  though, we intend to buy at least 23 X-rays machines which would be  distributed to various district and private hospitals,” he said.
On the Mrara Hospital, the deputy minister said four X-rays were already at  the Dar es Salaam port pending clearance.
 
“Any time from now the facilities will be distributed to the responsible  hospitals,” he told MPs yesterday.

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