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Tanzania: NSSF Vows to Move Heart Partient At City Hospital
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The Citizen (Dar es Salaam)
25 July 2008
Posted to the web 25 July 2008
The fate of heart patients admitted at the Tanzania Heart Institute (THI) will be known today when the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) moves in to remove them over a Sh2.3 billion rent dispute.
NSSF chief of public relations and customer service Eunice Chiume yesterday said the fund was going ahead with its planned takeover of the building in which scores of patients are admitted.
The institute's owner, Dr Ferdinand Masau, was reported to be in frantic efforts to try to contact top government officials in a last-ditch attempt to halt the planned eviction.
Sources at the hospital told The Citizen that Dr Masau was trying to contact State House last evening for assistance, but there was no clear word on whether had succeeded or not by the time of filing this story.
However, last evening he told a press conference that he had given up and left everything in the hands of NSSF and the Government. He denied reports from his own staff that he had unsuccessfully tried to reach President Jakaya Kikwete to help him.
But in a new twist, he claimed he was being undermined by powerful forces in the Government whom he did not, however, reveal. He said the individuals wanted to impose themselves as THI shareholders.
Dr Masau said he did not have money to clear the huge debt and said his efforts to get foreign sponsors had allegedly been frustrated by those he accused of envying his project.
Politicians also waded into the row over non-payment of Sh2.3 billion in three-year rent arrears by the institute to NSSF that claims the right of ownership for the building and wanted the Government to intervene.
NCCR-Mageuzi chairman Mr James Mbatia expressed sympathy with the patients and criticised the Government, which, he said, should resolve the dispute for the sake of the patients.
Mbatia who later visited the institution to console the patients said Labour minister Prof Juma Kapuya and the NSSF managing director Ramadhani Dau ought to let the patients enjoy their right to medical attention.
The politician, however, avoided the question of whether the institute's administration was to be held responsible for not paying rent due only pointing out that the tenancy contracts should not jeopardise the lives of the sick.
In a telephone interview, Ms Chiume said the NSSF management has tasked AAR health service providers to provide its four ambulances to be used in the eviction of heart patients to other hospitals which they will prefer within Dar es Salaam.
Ms Eunice said they have also requested physicians from the Muhimbili National Hospital to monitor the removal of the patients.
"After all patients will be humanely moved, NSSF will close its building. We are not forcing Dr Masau to shift his machines. We only need THI to settle the debt," she said adding that the place will remain locked until Dr Massawe paid the debt.
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She said NSSF had been paying all bills including electricity charges, water bills and garbage services.
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