07 Dec 2016

There is need to lobby and advocate for the palliative care to be considered along the mainstream health care.

Assistant Minister of Health and Wellness Mr Dikgang Makgalemele said when touring Bamalete Lutheran Hospital (BLH) Hospice recently.

He said the ministry has launched the palliative care policy to support existing efforts and asked hospital staff to workshop themselves on the policy.

Mr Makgalemele said the policy has many opportunities which could be helpful to their efforts.He said there will be more emphasis on palliative care under NDP 11 and adding that there was need for engaging with community structures such as village health committees and Home Based Care systems.

Mr Makgalemele said there was more that community structures could do in the health care value chain.

The assistant minister further acknowledged shortage of funds in the health sector and said there was need to look into other sources of funding.

“It is true that funds are not adequate and they will never be. The health ministry is looking on how best to diversify funding sources, which can include among others bringing the private sector along,” he said.

He encouraged BLH to engage the local business community on how best they could partner to bring better health care to the community.

For his part, senior medical officer Dr Mwanza Tshibelu said the hospital was challenged in providing health care services to patients and community.

He said currently, the hospital theatre was closed because of ventilation system which is completely dysfunctional.

Dr Tshibelu said the hospital had old infrastructure, old medical equipment, shortage of ambulance and faced inconsistent supply of vital essential drugs from Central Medical Stores. ENDS