By FLAVOR KANUNGO
FOLLOWING a high mortality rate among renal patients, Health minister, Jonas Chanda has given a stern directive to have consumables and equipment for dialysis available as soon as possible.
There has been an increase in the deaths of renal patients at Lusaka’s University Teaching Hospital (UTH) due to insufficient machines at the renal dialysis unit.
UTH renal unit sister in charge, Mutinta Mainga, said there were only 24 machines against 124 patient plus referrals from across the country.
This came to light when Health Minister, Jonas Chanda, toured the renal dialysis unit yesterday.
Ms Mainga said that the dialysis sessions had also been reduced from four hours to three hours to accommodate more patients.
Dr Chanda directed the UTH renal dialysis unit to finalise the framework contracts that involve renal consumables and equipment within one week.
He also directed that a comprehensive plan on the recruitment of patients on National Health Insurance Authority be submitted within 24 hours.
During the tour, Dr Chanda learnt that patients on dialysis had been subjected to buying their own drugs for over three months.
UTH Director – Clinical Care Services, Dr Alex Makupe said there was need to train more specialists for renal patients if referrals were to be reduced.
