09 Apr 2013

Clinics in Jwaneng have been without revenue officers since the takeover by the Ministry of Health in 2010, District Health Management Team (DHMT) head has said.

Ms Malebogo Ranko said in an interview that revenue officers who were engaged by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development were absorbed by the Jwaneng Town Council after the takeover.

Lack of revenue officers at clinics, Ms Ranko said, had resulted in non-collection of consultation fees from patients. That, she added, was a hindrance because the money could be used to maintain health facilities for improved service delivery.

She also noted that the district was missing on taking advantage of the high number of expatriates in the mining town, who were charged a higher consultation fee at clinics.

Nonetheless, Ms Ranko said lack of revenue officers would not halt services at clinics because they continued to help patients including those who did not afford the consultation fee. Furthermore, she added that they would also help patients unable to pay the fee even when revenue officers are available. Meanwhile, she indicated that they were still awaiting response from the Ministry of Health. The ministry had also not responded to BOPA questionnaire with regard the issue at press time. ENDS