Maravi

Dr Banda sees need for strong referral system

Dr Banda sees need for strong referral system
By Bright Mukwasa
Mon 09 Apr. 2012, 13:28 CAT

ROBIANA Muteka's case has demonstrated the need to strengthen our referral system in the country, says former Ministry of Health spokesperson Dr Canisius Banda. Dr Banda said in an interview that Robiana's case, which earned President Michael Sata's intervention, showed that the health referral system had some flaws.

"If we strengthen the referral system there would be no need for President Sata to intervene in such cases before an appropriate and decisive action is taken," Dr Banda said.

He said referral decisions were supposed to be made professional and did not require the intervention of a head of state as he was expected to do that on behalf of all Zambians, not only for individuals.

Dr Banda said there was need for a referral system that is sensitive to people's needs, and called on medical staff to take charge and take their professional decisions on such matters timely and appropriately to make the referral system functional.

He said the decision regarding Robiana's evacuation could have been made timely as the tumor did not grow overnight.

Doctors at the University Teaching Hospital recently operated on 24-year-old Robiana and removed from his back a tumour weighing14 kilogrammes.

Labels: HEALTHCARE

posted by MrK @ 1:32 PM