Patients now made to pay in bid to rescue MSD

 By The Citizen Reporters 

IN SUMMARY

• Minister for Health and Social Welfare Seif Rashid directed yesterday that all public health facilities channel 50 per cent of the funds they collect in cost-sharing charges to the Medical Stores Department (MSD) to forestall the looming medicine shortage.

Dar es Salaam. Patients in public hospitals will pay more for services following a new move announced by the government to forestall a medical supplies crisis over mounting debts.

Minister for Health and Social Welfare Seif Rashid directed yesterday that all public health facilities channel 50 per cent of the funds they collect in cost-sharing charges to the Medical Stores Department (MSD) to forestall the looming medicine shortage.

Dr Rashid said the order has been sent to all heads in all regional, districts and public hospitals, “and any official who will not obey the directive will be dealt with accordingly,” reads the statement in part.

 The minister concedes that MSD is currently short of money for buying essential medicines, with the government owing the agency Sh90 billion in arrears.

MSD is tasked with procurement and distribution of drugs to public health facilities and recently stopped critical supplies on account of unsettled debts. The minister moved to quell fears that hospitals would go without drugs, assuring that no patient would fail to get the necessary treatment, the cash crunch notwithstanding.

“The said amount (MSD debt) is not new... the government has been paying in instalments and we want to assure Tanzanians that medicines and other medical supplies are being sent to health facilities and there is no need for panic.”

However, despite the assurance by the ministry, The Citizen established yesterday that Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) – the largest referral hospital in the country— has slapped a new Sh5,000 daily charge on inpatients to cover its budget shortfall. Muhimbili owes MSD close to Sh9 billion.

A notice (right) at the hospital announced the new fees even as patients and their relatives complained  they were still being asked to buy their own drugs. A senior medical officer at the MNH who preferred anonymity confirmed the shortage, noting that it was true patients have to buy some of the prescribed drugs.

The levy has apparently been in force since October 17, when MSD stopped supplies. The Sh5,000 is in addition to Sh4,000 paid everyday for two meals for an inpatient. Another doctor who requested for anonymity for fear of retribution said desperate poor families were declining admission over the fees.  

 “Some are paying but the number of inpatients has declined since then,” said the source. Officials at the MNH were unavailable to comment.

At the Ocean Road Cancer Hospital, in Dar, a man who declined to reveal his name said there was nothing like free treatment as he was buying everything for his admitted wife.

 “My wife was supposed to undergo radiotherapy six months ago but the service is not available. I am not sure if it is because the machine is not working because I heard of that or because of the large number of patients,” he said.

Instead she is receiving chemotherapy because the wound is deepening but we must purchase the drug that Sh590,000 for a dose,” he said.

He said things are not so bad for him because his family has an health insurance cover. He added that he has seen some people withdrawing their admitted relatives because the hospital has no medicine.

Ms Fatuma Suleiman, a resident of Unguja, says her mother suffering from breast cancer has not been treated for two weeks now due to delayed tests.

 “Each week she goes for a single test. We have gone for two and expect the third examination be performed next week before she starts receiving treatment,” said Ms Suleiman.

Another male relative of a patient alleged that corruption was the other problem as medical personnel were demanding cash to see patients. “For example, one may say a test costs Sh150,000 but would still help if you gave them Sh70,000. Yet we are told the services are subsidised?”

With regard to Ocean Road, the minister yesterday explained that some machines aren’t functioning, but noted that experts from Canada have been called to service them soon.

Reported by Athuman Mtulya, Fariji Msonsa and Henry Mwangond
e