Kamwi blast patients for 'media begging'

WINDHOEKELVIS MURARANGANDA

The Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr Richard Kamwi, has strongly urged Namibians with rare medical conditions that require specialised treatment to make use of a special medical fund and not ask for money in the media.
"The ministry has noticed that many people make public appeals for funds to help their loved ones get specialised treatment elsewhere, yet we have established a Ministerial Special Fund in 2009/10," said Kamwi.
He added that the fund was established to assist State patients with rare illnesses that cannot be treated at the national referral facility - the Windhoek Central Hospital.
In response to questions from Clara Gowases of the Republican Party (RP) in the National Assembly last week, Kamwi said the fund balance currently stood at N$12 million.
Gowases, who referred to an article by Namibian Sun about the fund, asked Kamwi what strategies the ministry has in place to publicise the fund to patients who desperately need financial assistance for specialised treatment.
Kamwi said if clinics cannot treat a certain condition, the patient is referred to a district hospital, then to the Windhoek Central Hospital and then to a specialist who indentifies where the patient can be treated and at what cost.
"The specialist will then refer the patient to where he/she is going to be treated and at the same time applies for assistance from the special fund if the hospital's budget cannot pay for the treatment," he explained.
According to the minister, the government allocated N$10 million to start the fund during the 2009/10 financial year. The following year, another N$10 million was added.
"From September 2012 to May 31, 2013, a total of 117 patients have benefited from the special fund," he added.
"Sixty-three of these patients were referred to different health facilities in Cape Town, South Africa, for treatment or operations for various complications," Kamwi said.
A further 35 patients were referred to the Windhoek Kidney and Dialysis Centre for haemodialysis, also with the assistance of the fund, he said.
"The recent beneficiary as you may be aware is a baby that was born with four limbs. The baby was successfully operated on in South Africa and is back in Namibia," said the minister.
In the case of seven month-old Verora Meroro, who was born without eyes, Kamwi told the National Assembly that his ministry had informed the family about the fund.