Kudjip hospital faces shutdown over K5.7 million funding gap
Thousands of patients across Jiwaka and the Upper Highlands region could face serious disruption to essential healthcare services as Nazarene General Hospital at Kudjip battles a financial crisis threatening its continued operations.
The hospital has temporarily averted closure following emergency funding assistance, but its management warns that the reprieve may be short-lived unless the National Government urgently releases an additional K5.7 million.
The Level Five provincial referral hospital was preparing to close its outpatient, accident and emergency, and labour and delivery services on November 2 due to a severe funding crisis.
However, emergency assistance from the Christian Health Services and the Jiwaka Provincial Health Authority has bought the hospital more time to continue providing essential medical services.
Jiwaka Provincial Health Authority (JPHA) Board Chairman Paulus Ain says the emergency funding is only temporary relief, with the hospital still facing a significant financial shortfall.
" The emergency assistance by CHS and JPHA would only take the hospital operations through a month or two, but the hospital still will need the funding shortfall to take it through to the next fiscal year."
According to the joint statement issued by the hospital management and the Jiwaka Provincial Health Authority, the facility received K1.5 million from Christian Health Services and K500,000 from the Jiwaka Provincial Health Authority.
Ain also says its total funding gap for this financial year stands at approximately K12.8 million, covering essential operational costs, medical supplies, facility maintenance, utilities, staff housing rentals and outstanding staff allowances.
Hospital Chief Executive Officer Ambassador Paulias Korni stress the emergency assistance has provided temporary breathing space, but the underlying financial crisis remains unresolved.
" We would like to thank the CHS and the JPHA to come on board in this crucial tome of the hospital with the K2 million assistance.
"This does not mean the planned shutdown of the hospital will not eventually, unless the needed funding is made available then the hospital does not have a choice but to close its operations," says Ambassador Korni.
The JPHA board and management as well as the Kudjip Nazarene Hospital is now appealing to the Prime Minister to direct the Department of Treasury to release a further K5.7 million in emergency funding to sustain services for the remainder of the year.
"We are now making an urgent call to the relevant responsible ministries to release the warrant and make available the K5.7 million needed for the continued operations of Kudjip Hospital.
"People's lives are at stake and the funds needed will not benefit our pockets rather the very people that makes the government. Because Jiwaka is yet to have a Provincial Hospital of its own, for now the services provided at the Kudjip Hospital must be taken seriously by the government," stressed Chairman Ain.
The hospital warns that without further government intervention, the threat of an indefinite shutdown remains, putting essential healthcare services for the people of Jiwaka and the Upper Highlands region at risk.
The requested funding is needed to maintain cash flow for essential medical supplies, utilities and staff obligations while longer-term budget issues are addressed.
And while the strong call for the national government as well as call for local parliamentarians of Jiwaka to intervene, this is to ensure patients continue receiving uninterrupted medical care at Kudjip Nazarene Hospital.