Residents hail move to scrap renal fees

MASVINGO residents have hailed Government for scrapping off fees for renal treatment saying the move will benefit many kidney patients in the province.

Many people were failing to get renal treatment because of the exorbitant costs.

Community Working Group on Health Provincial Chair Mrs Entrance Takaidza said Government’s decision would improve health service delivery.

Government through the Ministry of Health and Child Care last week scrapped dialysis fees for real patients.

Kidney patients were paying fees ranging between $150 and $200 per session. It cost about $250 in private hospitals.

Statistics show that there were 600 renal patients in the country in 2017. Half were finding it difficult to get treatment because of financial constraints.

“We applaud Government for scrapping fees on dialysis sessions for renal patients,” said Mrs Takaidza.

She said the province had many patients suffering from kidney problems.

“This will go a long way in addressing health gaps especially in Masvingo.

“As an organisation, we have received grievances from a number of kidney patients over their inability to meet health expenses. Now that the Government has listened to the voice of reason, we are glad,” she said.

Consumer Council of Zimbabwe provincial chair Mr Joweri Mukusha urged authorities at Masvingo General Hospital to complete the installation of the $200 000 renal unit at the institution for the benefit of renal patients.

“We hail Government over such a move which helps patients.

“However, we are concerned with the non-functioning of the newly-installed renal unit, two years on.

“We call upon authorities at our provincial referral health system to ensure that the dialysis machine has started working,” said Mr Mukusha.

Masvingo Provincial Medical Director, Dr Amadeaus Shamu said the renal unit was yet to work due to absence of screening facilities which demarcated sluice room from the dialysis room.

“We also need a well-planned and properly equipped sluice room and that is important for maintaining hygiene and to prevent cross infections,” he said recently.

He said a sluice room is where disposables like incontinence pad and bed pans are deposited and reusable products are cleaned and disinfected.