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(NEWZIMBABWE) UTH sets aside K2.6bn for kidney treatment

UTH sets aside K2.6bn for kidney treatment
By Agness Changala
Fri 15 Apr. 2011, 04:00 CAT

THE shortage of consumables at the University Teaching Hospital’s Renal Unit was due to a budget deficit the hospital experienced, according to Dr Aggrey Mweemba. And Dr Mweemba who is in charge of the Renal Unit said about K2.6 billion had been budgeted for to treat patients of kidney failure this year.

Patients undergoing the dialysis process at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) have been complaining of lack of consumables.

Dr Mweemba said the problem came about because patients could not afford to pay K200,000 per session to undergo the process and consequently (the unit) ran out of consumables.

He, however, assured that the problem had been sorted out, saying all the consumables were in stock.

Dr Mweemba said the cost to undergo the dialysis process was still expensive and the government was aware about it.

“For this reason, the cost has been reduced further to K100,000 per session, which brings the total amount to about K1.2 million per month compared to the time patients were paying K200,000 per session K2.4 million per month,” he said.

He said measures to reduce the cost further from the current K100,000 per session to K50, 000 had been instituted.

“We just have to see how it works because we have to source for resources to reduce the cost further,” Dr Mweemba said.

“Before the cost was reduced to K100, 000, patients had to undergo one session of haemo blood dialysis cleaning at a cost of K400,000. Each patient requires three sessions in a week. Those on permanent dialysis chronic renal failure paid K200,000 while the government paid K200,000. Those suffering from acute renal failure where recovery is expected access the temporary tube and haemo dialysis for free.”

He said out of the K2.6 billion budget, K2 billon would be used to treat 36 chronic renal failure patients while the rest would be spent on the 135 acute renal failure patients.

Dr Mweemba said the K2.6 billion budget for the unit was almost equivalent to what UTH spends on treating patients.

He said the Ministry of Health would provide K1.5 billion towards the budget while UTH would contribute K500 million and the remaining K600 million would come from user fees.

Labels: HEALTHCARE, UTH

posted by MrK @ 2:25 PM