Efficient healthcare requires proper investment

The dearth of adequately trained and competent health professionals once again rears its ugly head after revelations that Lesotho’s biggest hospital – Queen ‘Mamohato Memorial Hospital – is unable to provide CT scan services despite being equipped with the largest CT scan machine in the country.

The machine, which requires a team of radiologists and radiographers to operate it, is said to be lying idle like a white elephant. The reason? The hospital does not have competent staff to operate the CT scan after the departure of their only radiologist earlier this year.

It is commendable that the government has invested in such an important machine. Investing in advanced medical technology can help produce more solutions, primarily for diagnostics and medical devices for sustainable healthcare.

This results in more value being delivered to patients, healthcare professionals, and society in general through medical devices.

It is equally important to invest in competent health professions. This way, patients are more satisfied when they perceive their care came from well-qualified and competent staff. Clinical outcomes and patient health are improved.

By ‘competence’ we mean all those in caring roles must have the ability to understand an individual’s health and social needs. It is also about having the expertise, clinical and technical knowledge to deliver effective care and treatments based on research and evidence. So, we urge the ministry of health to hire more capable professionals at its health facilities, so poor patients to not find themselves forced to pay exorbitant fees at private practices in the country and neighbouring South Africa.