Marina lifts patient referral suspension to SA
Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Wednesday May 6, 2015 16:11
This comes after the hospital suspended patient referrals to SA health facilities following attacks on other African nationals there.
“The service was suspended two weeks ago because of the xenophobia attacks. Marina reviewed the situation in consultation with the Botswana Embassy in Pretoria and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Marina is satisfied that the attacks have since abated,” PMH Chief Communications and Public Relations Officer, Donnell Kutlapye said in a press release.
He added that all patients who were supposed to receive medical attention in SA would be rebooked with immediate effect. “Travelling to South Africa is expected to resume on Monday after confirmation of bookings with Healthshare Integrated Services. Princess Marina Hospital Referral Office will call all affected patients,” he explained.
Kutlapye added that the hospital management expressed its sincere gratitude to the patients and Batswana in general for being enduring when service was suspended.
PMH decided to suspend routine patient referrals to all hospitals in SA with immediate effect due to the sporadic xenophobic attacks that were taking place there. Then, Kutlapye had explained that this was done for the safety of their staff and patients. He said although they were aware that these attacks were happening in a few areas in South Africa, they were also aware that they could have ripple effects. Only life threatening conditions and emergencies were not affected by the suspension. “Transportation of patients with the above mentioned conditions have been done to avoid loss of life,” he said then. Kutlapye further stated then that travel arrangements for patients who have been discharged in South African Hospitals had been conducted through Healthshare Integrated Solutions and the Botswana Consulate in Johannesburg.
He added in his previous statements that private ambulances from South Africa would collect patients at the border post, or use Medical Rescue International Air support.
At the time Kutlapye added that the same arrangement would be made for discharged patients in South Africa. “We have taken this decision looking at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation’s (Botswana) advice that Batswana should delay their travel to South Africa, until the xenophobic violence situation abates,” he said at the time.