The Namibian (Windhoek)
30 October 2009
GOVERNMENT will put aside N$10 million from next year to assist State patients who need emergency medical treatment.
Cabinet has approved the establishment of a co-ordinating committee to process requests for special financial assistance for medical treatment for State patients.
It also approved the establishment of a trust account under the Ministry of Health to consider applications for financial assistance for special medical treatment for specific conditions.
These include cardiac angiogram and insertion of stents that can only be performed outside Namibia, cardio-thoracic surgery like a cardiac bypass, radical prostatectomy and major brain surgery like brain aneurysm repair.
Other medical conditions that will fall under the new fund are major abdominal surgery like abdominal aorta aneurysm repair, organ transplants like stem cell transplant, liver or kidney transplant, which can only be performed in South Africa, radiotherapy for cancer patients who are heavier than 90 kilograms, dialysis and specialised surgery for resections.
ICU and high care admissions due to complications after major surgery will also be covered by Government, according to a statement from the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology.
The Cabinet resolution was made at the latest Cabinet meeting on October 13, according to the statement.
"Government is confronted by serious, uncommon medical conditions for which lower-income groups cannot afford the treatment," according to the statement.
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