OUTCRY OVER SWAZIMED ICU REGULATIONS

MBABANE – Are sick Swazis deceived when taken tointensive care units (ICU) in Swazi hospitals and clinics?

This question was triggered by the Times SUNDAY’s findings that no private clinic or public hospital in the country qualifies to have an ICU.

The ICU is a unit in the hospital where seriously ill patients are cared for by specially trained staff. The ICU staff includes doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists, clinical nurse specialists, pharmacists, physical therapists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, dietitians, social workers, and chaplains.

Investigations into this matter were prompted by an outcry by some SwaziMed clients that the former (SwaziMed) is reluctant to pay for their ICU incurred expenses. There was also an outcry from local private clinics proprietors that SwaziMed was refusing to accredit them (private clinics) to have ICUs because they are falling short of certain terms and conditions.

Due to that, SwaziMed only pays for patients taken to South African hospitals.
Information reaching this publication is to the effect that for SwaziMed to pay for ICU and High Care patients, the private hospital should have registered with the Medical and Dental Council of Swaziland, registered with the Board of Health Care Funders in South Africa, it must also have been evaluated and approved by the Health Service Accreditation of Southern Africa (COHSASA) and lastly, it must have a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with SwaziMed.

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