Muhimbili to get second CT scan machine

Dr Seif Rashid

The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has set aside funds in its 2013/14 budget to buy another CT scan machine for Muhimbili National Hospital, Parliament was informed yesterday.

Deputy minister of Health and Social Welfare Dr Seif Rashid disclosed this when responding to a question raised by Al-Shaymaa John Kwegyir (Special Seats - CCM) who wanted to know how the government is addressing the congestion of patients in need of CT Scan X-Rays at Muhimbili.

Kwegyir also wanted to know when would the government fix the CT scan machine which had been broken a while, hence leaving patients with the burden of having to pay 300,000/- when they access the service in private hospitals. Dr Rashid said the government was aware of the fact that machine at Muhimbili had been inoperative for 11 months (between 2012 and 2013), which is what led to a congestion of patients and leading others to seek for the service in private hospitals.

“The government sympathises with the people who needed this service but couldn’t access it,” he said.
However, he said the process of fixing the machine took longer due to shortage of spare parts, but the repair was completed in December 2012,
“There is no more congestion of patients awaiting the service,” the minister assured the legislator.

In his supplementary question, Rev Peter Msigwa (Chadema- Iringa Urban) asked the government if it had any plans of providing CT scan machines to all regional hospitals to save inconveniences.

The deputy minister said funds weren’t enough to accomplish that task.
Currently, there is one functioning CT scan machine across all public hospitals in the country.

The minister, however, said the government is now repairing CT scan machines at Bugando Hospital in Mwanza and KCMC in Moshi respectively.

Dr Rashid also said in the 2013/14 budget, the ministry has set aside 160m/- to purchase two vehicles for Mugana Hospital, now considered the Misenye District Hospital.

He revealed this when responding to a question raised by Assumpter Mshana (Nkenge-CCM) who wanted to know if the government had any plans of giving the hospital another ambulance as it only has one which serves all wards in the district.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN