State Patients Get Help From Special Fund

Jana-Mari Smith

27 April 2011

A special multimillion-dollar medical fund for State patients with complex medical conditions that require treatment outside Namibia continues to be highlighted by the Health Ministry.

Last week, a ministry spokesperson said a committee of medical experts is administering the special fund, which was created at the end of 2009.

Patients whose medical conditions require procedures that can only be performed outside Namibia can get funding if the committee approves the request.

These conditions include radical prostatectomy, major spinal surgery, brain surgery, abdominal surgery, organ transplants, radiotherapy for complex cancers, and other specialised surgeries or medical procedures.

The ministry reminded patients that the fund can only be accessed if the patient obtains a referral from a doctor, which is then processed through the ministry’s referral system.

“The patient will be seen by a medical specialist, who upon evaluation of the patient will determine the most appropriate further treatment.” Medical doctors need to “pay special attention to the following aspects: diagnosis, prognosis, required treatment and justification,” the spokesperson said.

Private patients could also be considered for the fund, but must first apply to be classified as State patients.

The special fund was created because there were many cases of State patients with medical conditions that could not be treated in Namibia.

Often these patients sought treatment privately and the ministry only learned about their conditions through the media when they appealed for donations.

State patients are advised to visit the nearest health facility if they fall ill. If it is determined that the illness requires specialised medical care that cannot be provided in Namibia, health workers will refer the patient to the next level until a specialist at the Windhoek Central hospital applies to the fund for assistance.

“In short, this means that only specialists at Windhoek Central Hospital can apply for financial assistance from the special fund. No individual patient is allowed to apply to the special fund,” the ministry emphasised.

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