24 May 2018

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Alfred Madigele says his ministry is busy formulating Health Finances Strategy to address issues of increasing rare and fatal diseases.

Responding to a motion that was ultimately adopted by the on-going Ntlo Ya Dikgosi, Dr Madigele noted that the Ministry of Health and Wellness intended to create a fund to be used in treating of dreaded and rare diseases.

Dreaded diseases or critical illnesses are, among others, kidney failure, chronic liver infection, heart attack, cancer, coronary artery, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease.

He noted that to arrive at this inventiveness, which should equate the status of global health initiatives, they would benchmark on the best practices and adopt guidelines to help in the formulation of the fund.

Dr Madigele concurred with dikgosi that indeed such a fund was needed, noting that they intended to complete the strategy by the end of this year.

The minister’s response followed a motion tabled by Kgosi Moeti Monyamane of Kgalagadi North region, who requested government to establish a special fund to assist with the diagnosis and treatment of rare diseases.

Motivating his motion, which received overwhelming support from the House, Kgosi Monyamane said nowadays it is common to see people with various rare ailments such as swollen heads, which do not respond to common medication despite the number of times the patient visits medical facilities.

In some instances, he said some people have developed constricted tissues and tendons, thus curtailing their ability to walk.

Kgosi Monyamane regretted that poor people who are unable to fund their own private and expensive treatment are at risk, adding that it was crucial that the country establish such a fund as a matter of urgency.

Supporting the motion, Kgosi Galeakanye Modise of Tswapong region said the initiative was long overdue as some people had already succumbed to rare diseases because their treatment was beyond reach of many patients.

Kgosi Modise regretted that at times government hospitals took a long time to diagnose such diseases.

He added that review dates for patients are few and far apart, a situation which worsens the condition of the patients.

For his part, Kgosi Kgomotso Boiditswe of Serowe region bemoaned that sometimes it took long for such diseases to be detected and by the time they are detected it would be at advanced stage, hence the need for advanced medication.

Kgosi Boiditswe therefore said even individuals should be allowed to contribute to the fund  for its sustenance. Ends