adminThe incident in which a Mutare woman was made to carry her uterus home after a surgical operation has spilled into Parliamen,t with the health minister saying that will never happen again.
Maria Chamisa from Dangamvura was early this year forced to carry her uterus home after she failed to secure funds to send it for laboratory testing.
Responding to the issue in the National Assembly, the Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr David Parirenyatwa, said the incident was very unfortunate adding that a number of factors had led the woman to take the specimen home.
“Usually after surgery, some tissues that have been cut out are subjected to further laboratory examination through histology.
“Unfortunately, Mutare Hospital has no histology services and specimens have to be referred to Harare for analysis.
“However, the private sector in Mutare does have this capacity and for those who choose to and can afford it, they can have their surgical specimens examined at the local private lab after paying a fee,” he said.
“A number of factors converged on this woman which led to the unfortunate incident under discussion. Having undergone surgery at affordable rates at the public institution, the client’s specimen was supposed to be examined histologically.
“We are informed she opted to have it examined at the local private lab.
“Payments of the services are done at the private lab. On discharge from hospital, the client carried their specimen to deposit it at the lab, but could not afford the fee so she proceeded with it home,” added Minister Parirenyatwa.
He has since told the National Assembly that the unfortunate incident was corrected as the hospital followed up the specimen and took it from the woman.
“The Provincial Medical Director’s Office submitted the specimen to the private lab, and paid the due amount for the specimen processing ($88) on behalf of the patient.
“All specimens, regardless of final lab of destination, are to be kept in the custody of the hospital lab to avoid such a scenario.
“Should a client opt to use the local private lab the specimen is then collected by the private lab courier from the hospital lab after due payment by the client.
“No client will be allowed to carry their own specimen to the lab. As much as possible, we will try to utilise our own pathology services in Harare for analysis of such specimens,” he said.
Maria had initially been taken to Dangamvura Polyclinic but was referred to the Mutare Provincial Hospital.
Having told the hospital she would be unable to pay for her medical bills they performed an emergency operation removing a part of her uterus so they could temporarily ease the pain and do tests to find out what was wrong with her.
Her operation cost $800 but she was only able to pay half. She stayed in the hospital for four days and was brought the outstanding bill at $415 but was asked to pay $450 so they could discharge her. — H-Metro.
Online Reporter