Hospital funds dry up

 By JAMES APA GUMUNO
THE Government is being urged to provide adequate funding to public hospitals under its free health care policy.
Kundiawa General Hospital chief executive Mathew Kaluvia said the hospital needed more than the K300,000 it was allocated under the free health care policy.
Kaluvia said despite the inadequate funding, the board and management of the hospital was implementing the free health care policy for the sake of the people.
Kaluvia said the K300,000 allocated for this year was almost used up.
He said the hospital management was more than happy to carry out Government’s policy and directive but could not do it on the K300,000 it had been allocated.
He said the hospital had to buy drugs and equipment from overseas.
Meanwhile, the hospital has implemented projects from the K5 million given by the National Planning Office last July under the Hospital Rehabilitation Programme.
Kaluvia said it was used to build six doctors’ quarters, TB and medical records offices, extend the theatre and X-ray wings, extend the laboratory to the histopathogy and microbiology wing, build a storage house, water supply, duplex and fencing.
Other projects include the construction of two nursing sisters’ buildings, with 64 rooms funded by the provincial government for K490,000.