The medical imaging department is responsible for ensuring that the radiology services meets the needs of its patient population, the clinical services offered, and the healthcare providers.  The strategic objective of the medical imaging service is then to strengthen the health facilities capacity to provide high quality, safe and efficient radiology services. In 2010/11 financial the medical imaging services have been able to make the following achievements:


•    Human Resources
Two (2) Diagnostic Radiographers were recruited one (1) at Sithobela and one (1) at Mbabane government Hospital and 7 Diagnostic Radiographers were promoted to Senior Radiographer posts. There are 4 Ultra-Sonographers recruited. There are now two (2) Ultra-Sonographers at Mbabane Government Hospital, one (1) at Mankayane Hospital, one (1) at TB Hospital, One (1) at Hlathikhulu Hospital ( now at Matsanjeni Health centre need. Three (3) officers were still in recruitment process

•    Consumables
Government bought the following consumables 20 Cassettes of different sizes, 10 Gridded cassettes, 25 Lead aprons, 2 ID marker, 5 Anatomical markers L and R, 15 Lead gloves, 2 Gonad shield, 25 Thyroid shield, 7 Sensitometer, 7 Densitometer, 7 Step-wedge, 5 Thermometers, 17 Lead strip and 5 Sticker labels. The above mentioned consumables are being distributed to the various health facilities. There has been limited work interruption experienced due to shortage of consumables.

•    Quality Improvement Programme
Radiation protection devices have been procured and are being distributed to the various government facilities. A Radiation Safety manual has been drafted need to be approved.

Infrastructure and Equipment Unit (BIO MED)

The Biomedical Engineering unit is responsible for management and maintenance of medical and non-medical equipment and physical infrastructure maintenance/ rehabilitation of health facilities.

A .Achievements

v  Outreach schedule maintenance program (ongoing)

v  Medical and non medical equipment maintenance service contracts have been awarded for 2015/16. Servicing of medical and non medical equipment ( on going)

v  Securing a Consultant for the development of Inventory Management Software through the HIV / Aids and TB project. Work commenced in October, 2014.

v  Workshop (training) for Biomed staff on Inventory Management Software

v  Procurement of physical infrastructure maintenance materials and stores items (consumables) for health facilities

  1. Challenges

v  Training of maintenance technicians. Most of the Technicians have to go for External training on Clinical / Biomedical Engineering to meet the ever changing technology and complexity of medical devices, as government is focussing on strengthening the health sector.

v  Capacity (HR): Physical infrastructure maintenance team (Artisans) -There is a need to have a team of Artisans per region; this will meet the strategic objective to decentralize Biomedical Engineering Unit to all the regions.

The objective of the fund is to assist deserving Swazi citizens, who would otherwise not have access to specialist medical care, to secure such care either, within the Kingdom of Swaziland or, in special circumstances, outside the Kingdom of Swaziland”.
The committee set up for the referrals scrutinizes all requests for referrals and decide on the need for each referral and report on their progress
The Ministry of Health has strengthened the medical ambulance services for patients who are in need of specialized care services in the Republic of South Africa.

1. Supply Chain of services provided
The following procedures have to be undertaken before a patient is referred to South Africa for specialist treatment. 
Local clinician in clinic/hospital (Private/Public)

Referring Technical Team (MGH)

RSA Health Institution

Phalala Office

Local Clinician (Private/Public) Clinic/hospital


1. Phalala Office

  • The Phalala office books the patient with the respective hospital with the special care.
  • Prepares the patient by ensuring that the patient has all the necessary documents.
  • Patient is then taken to RSA health institution.
  • Constant liaison is done with the admitting hospital and Phalala Office e.g. information on treatment plan.
  • When discharged the office is responsible for his/her return.
  • The office ensures that the patient comes back with a report and necessary drugs.
  • The office keeps record of follow-up visits if necessary.
  • The office ensures facilitation of continuum of care that is though maintaining a clear supply chain as follows:

2. Required documents

  • Patients traveling document
  • Patients Medical Visa
  • Quotations from receiving hospital
  • Referral letter
  • Guarantee letter for payment
  • Appointment date
  • Name of hospital and doctor to attend patient

The type of transport Ambulance

  • The ambulance service will provide a medical and technical basic life support, with all the necessary equipment and drugs.
  • Quantum/mini bus, this will cater for stable patients and mostly the ones for review.

Staffing on board for both ambulance and minibus.

  • Driver
  • Nurse to provide care from departure to receiving hospital

Pharmaceutical Services

Central Medical Stores (CMS) is responsible for the supply chain management of all health commodities including medicines in the public sector. The department supports the mission of the Ministry by providing preventative, curative and diagnostic medicines that are of acceptable quality, safe and effective. The main objective of central medical stores is to ensure a regular uninterrupted equitable supply of quality medicines and medical supplies to the health facilities thus ensuring that the general Swazi population can access these commodities.

 

Achievements

Mentorship and Supportive Supervisory Visits of Health Facilities: CMS conducted mentorship and supportive supervisory visits in 40 health facilities in the Lubombo and Hhohho regions and 36 health facilities in the Manzini and Shiselweni regions. These visits were conducted in partnership development partners and the RHMT (clinic supervisors) in these regions and with the support of MSH/SIAPS. The goal of these visits was to monitor the interventions implemented to strengthen pharmaceutical systems in health facilities in the country. Specifically the objectives of these visits were to assess pharmaceutical products and services situation in health facilities, identify possible gaps in the management of pharmaceuticals at the facilities, support the interventions aimed at addressing any identified gaps.

Insulation Project of the Central Medical Stores: The Central Medical Stores had a challenge with maintaining appropriate temperatures for medicines due to constant break-down of the cooling system. An insulation project was commissioned through Micro-Projects and it was completed in May 2015.

Distribution Fleet Management System: The Central Medical Stores managed to conduct a pilot of a fleet management system using 6 distribution vehicles and the results include; reduced fuel consumption, improved availability of the distribution vehicles and bottlenecks that the department has to improve on have also been identified. Furthermore, a tender has been advertised for a fleet management system to be installed in distribution vehicles in 2016.

Data Verification and Mentorship Visits: The Central Medical Stores (CMS) through its Data Management Unit (DMU) managed to verify LMIS data for ART, TB, and SRH between May and June 2015. Data was verified for the second quarter of 2015, i.e. May-June 2015. A total of 44 health facilities received verification and on site mentorship visit from CMS for all three mentioned programmes. The findings were also disseminated to health workers.

Increase the capacity of MoH staff on Quantification and Forecasting: The Ministry conducted a workshop for all health workers who are involved the forecasting and quantification of health commodities. Management Sciences for Health (MSH) provided the facilitators and during the first week of October 2015.

List of Tracer Drugs Finalized: The list of Tracer medicines was finalised and shared with partners. Tracer medicines are used to generate quantitative information on the performance or desired outcomes of the Ministry of Health. They are mainly used to measure availability of medicines.

National Oral Services prmotes the health of the people by making improved oral health services available to the entire community of the Kingdom of Swaziland. The Ministry of Health together with the Operation Smile-South Africa ran dental training clinic where eleven (11) local dental officers were training on construction of abturators for patients with cleft palate and cleft lip.
This partnership has seen quite a number of school going children and adults being given a new lifeline, by having a smile.

Contact person;

Senior Oral Officer, Dr Ncamile Mabuza,

Telephone number +268 2404 2431,

Physical address; Ministry of Health Headquarters.

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