BULAWYO -- Mpilo Central Hospital has turned away scores of poor and other vulnerable patients who are assisted by the government to meet medical costs after the Department of Social Welfare failed to pay the hospital for previous treatments.According to clinical director Wedu Ndebele, the department owes the hospital that is also government owned US$25 000 in outstanding payments mostly for patients using assisted medical treatment orders (AMTOs), a form of a voucher allowing patients to get medical attention with the government paying at a later date.
We have received one months payment for the year 2010 and we have been engaging in talks with the Social Welfare pertaining to the issue of late payments and outstanding bills for patients using assisted medical treatment orders. To date we are owed US$25 000 by the Department of Social Welfare, said Ndebele.
Mpilos decision to refuse to accept further AMTOs has hit hard department-assisted renal patients, who are unable to raise the $80 the hospital charges for dialysis session.
But Ndebele defended the move as necessary to raise cash needed to run the dialysis unit. It is imperative for the continued running of the unit that these patients bills are paid on time for the hospital to order more supplies for treatment, he said, adding that the department has since indicated it would clear all outstanding debts, as soon as possible.
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