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| Muhimbilli National Hospital |
Apart from the equipment, the hospital also needs more than 300 computers to facilitate electronic communication from when the patients enter the hospital until when they are discharged.
MNH Director General, Dr Marina Njelekela told the Parliamentary Committee for Parastatal Organizations Accounts (POAC) that once a computirised system is in place it make it easy to trace patients' records, something that is very difficult today.
She was responding to MPs who queried that people were still complaining of corruption and bureaucracies in various sections of the hospital, especially movement of patients' files to respective clinics and doctors.
"Allegations of corruption are still rife but we are working on them. But the installation of a communication system would help speed up movement of patients' records, thus reduce these allegations," she said.
PAOC Chairman, Mr Zitto Kabwe said his committee would liaise with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to make sure quick action is taken on the demand. Earlier, MPs demanded to know action taken by the hospital on the report by the Auditor and Controller General (CAG) that involved the hospital and the Medical Stores Department (MSD) in issues pertaining to medical supplies and drugs.
According to the records, there were reconciliation problems of the movement of drugs from MSD where it was alleged the department has been issuing invoices for drugs that have not been delivered to the hospital.
Mr Kangi Lugola (CCM-Mwibara) and Mr Zitto said there were signs of foul play in the procurement process of drugs. "How can the invoice be raised while the Goods Received Note (GRN) is not issued?
It appears MSD and the hospital is colluding to steal drugs," said Mr Lugola. MNH Board Chairman, Prof Joseph Kuzilwa admitted there were some disparities in drugs procurement and delivery, but soon the system will be improved to avoid occurrence of the present shortcomings.
In response, Dr Njelekela said efforts are underway to improve it and from July, this year agreements with MSD were reached to permanently tackle the problem. Meanwhile, POAC has directed the hospital to lock its building that is illegally occupied by a businessman who rented it to NMB Bank.
Mr Zitto gave the directed yesterday after discovering that the hospital and the Dar es Salaam-based Ms Regent Store are in court over the building. The company entered an agreement with the hospital to construct the building and use it for five years from 1992 to 1997.
But according to MNH Legal Officer, Ms Veronica Hellar, the company refused to release the building and on top of that rented it to NMB who are operating it for about 15 years now. "We are aware that the company is receiving rent from the bank while the case is still pending at the Land Division of the High Court and we could not do anything more," she said.
Ms Hellar told the committee that the value of the building was over 7,000 US dollars a month which is equivalent to more than 80,000 US Dollars (over 95m/-) a year.
Prof Kuzilwa pleaded for more time so that the board can work on the directive, but Mr Kabwe insisted the building has to be closed or else his committee would take that responsibility. Prof Kuzilwa was of the opinion that the directive be halted until December, this year, when the court reach a ruling of the case.
Daily News Tanzania