Malawi health minister warns clinicians who force patients pay in public hospitals
Minister of Health Peter Kumpalume has moved in swiftly to warn clinicians that they would be fired if they force patients pay money in public hospitals.
The minister made an impromptu visit to Nsanje where he visited heath centres where people complained that they were forced to pay for services in public hospitals.
He also visited Nsanje District Hospital in order to thoroughly investigate the matter that has potential to cause political backlash.
“Services in public hospitals remain free. We are dealing with this issue as a matter of urgency.,” said Kumpalume.
“ Clinicians should not take public hospitals as their own private clinics, the government will deal with them,” he warned.
The visit of the minister comes barely days after some people in the district alleged they were asked to pay money ranging from K5000 to K15000.
Before going to Nsanje, Kumpalume visited cholera patients.
He said although 10 people have died and 191 people were affected, the cholera cases are going down as there were only 28 patients as of Wednesday.
There are over 200 cholera cases countrywide.
Meanwhile, Lilongwe has recorded its first cholera on Wednesday.
Officials from Bwaila Hospital in Lilongwe say the patient is on isolated ward at the hospital. They say he is a businessman and is suspected to have got the disease from Machinga where he went recently on a business trip
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Let me comment on this one. I encountered this last week. The root cause is drug and equipment shortages in government hospitals. Last week a woman came at the hospital for Pregnancy Test unfortunately the government hospital had run out of Pregnancy Test Kits. It implied that she was supposed to be sent back home or that she purchased her own pregnancy test kit if she wanted to be assisted. Recognizing this gap, health workers buy their own drugs and test kits using their own money and ask the clients to pay for them. Now for a poor man, it… Read more »
You are warning them? You should have done surveillance, catch them,try them in court of law and fire them. So simple!
Our Ministers are really not practical at times.
This Minister is also corrupt, he recieved K50 million fro Bisnowaty so that MCA of Bisnowate which failed to meet the tender requirements should be reversed
Probe Dr Nyasosela waku KCH he charges us consultation fee yet we meet within the Government premises. Amatitumiza ku Masm clinic so that he charges us.
Ndipo Bwairayo Si Maternity Yokha Even Out Patient.Kulembetsa Matenda 1500. 3000 Likakhala Saturday.Uku Akulalata Ali Zongothandizana Mwachifundotu Izi.Amene Alibe Ndalamayo Azipita.Ndikudabwa Akumpalume Akusiya Zimenezi Kulilongwe Kuno Kumapita Kunsanje Ziri Mmkhondemu.
Asatipusitse munachita kuwauza,zanu zada kale basi ndi gay wanuyo.
Also visit Bwaila Maternity ward. Women are being asked to pay at least K3000 if they want to go home with a baby or else they will go empty handed. Shame shame shame! It’s happening right now!