Budget cut paralyses Neno hospital

Neno District Hospital spokesperson Ganizani Mkwate has said the hospital’s operations have been paralysed due to reduced funding.

He said the hospital requires a budget allocation of about K15 million (US$33 333) per month to run smoothly.

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Said Mkwate: “However, our other related transactions [ORT] budget has been reduced from K13 million [US$28 889] to about K7 million [US$15 556].”

He said they will stop offering ambulance and kitchen services if they do not receive adequate support.

Mkwate said the situation has also affected procurement of drugs from the Central Medical Stores Trust (CMST; hence, some patients are asked to buy from private pharmacies, those drugs not available at the hospital.

He said CMST has indicated that it would only release essential drugs for the hospital.

A patient who pleaded for anonymity said the hospital is already short of drugs for both out-patients and those admitted.

“The situation is inconveniencing us because we cannot afford to sustain both our health and daily needs,” he said.

The hospital runs 13 health centres, including a community hospital at Lisungwi.