Advanced training improving Health sector

Just like most countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, complicated health cases in the country are usually referred to countries with superior healthcare like India. However, increasingly many complicated medical cases are being handled here, which is a sign of changing times.According to Arthur Asiimwe, the Head of Division, RBC/Rwanda Health Communication Centre, referral cases have decreased with time.“Cases of referring health complications to hospitals abroad have gone down by 80 percent. We have 100 doctors currently abroad, pursuing various specialised courses in medicine.” Asiimwe also observes that the government has stepped up efforts to minimise referral cases by building local capacities in the local health sector through human resource development and acquisition of state-of-the-art equipment.He pointed out that the Ministry of Health has a target to meet all healthcare needs in the country by training more specialists in diverse medical fields. But there are allegations abound that some top hospitals in the country decline to refer patients to other countries for further treatment.Morris (real name withheld on request) is one of the patients who claims to have been denied referral to another country despite evidence that his medical condition could not be handled locally. “I explained my problem to a medic and a friend who works there after the hospital had declined to give me a transfer ,yet they didn’t have the expertise to treat me. He said they can’t because the hospital would incur high costs paying the bills.” Dr. Alex Butera, the acting Chief Executive Officer of King Faisal Hospital, refutes the claims, saying that anyone deserving a transfer for further treatment is usually accorded one.“The problem is that some patients want to prescribe medication for themselves or they think they know what’s best for them more than a doctor. Some people don’t deserve transfers and so they don’t get them if we can ably treat them here in the country.” He notes that the hospital has a medical referral board that ensures everyone in need of a referral is offered a chance to go for further treatment.Asiimwe says that the public should have confidence in the government and realise that efforts are being intensified to further improve the quality of medical care.He said that lately, the country was also receiving referrals from other countries, pointing out that patients come from various parts of the East African region to receive treatment .