Vice President Deogratius Ndejembi has intervened to clear medical bills for patients unable to pay at Mount Meru Regional Referral Hospital, bringing attention to the financial barriers facing some Tanzanians even after receiving treatment.
Mr Ndejembi made the intervention yesterday during a visit to the Arusha-based hospital, where he inspected healthcare services and spoke directly with patients about their experiences.
Some patients told him they were satisfied with the treatment they had received but were unable to settle their medical bills, leaving them unable to complete the process of leaving the hospital.
The Deputy President subsequently facilitated payment of the bills for some of the affected patients, providing relief to them and their families.
The incident highlighted a challenge beyond access to treatment—patients who manage to reach health facilities can still face financial difficulties that affect their ability to complete treatment and return home.
During the visit, Mr Ndejembi toured several wards and received a briefing from hospital officials on the facility's operations, services and challenges facing both patients and health workers.
He also spoke with patients in the wards, conveyed President Samia Suluhu Hassan's greetings and assured them that the government would continue prioritising healthcare services.
In the maternity ward, Mr Ndejembi met mothers who had safely delivered and their newborns, saying the government would continue strengthening maternal and child healthcare as part of efforts to reduce maternal and child deaths.
He said the focus on maternal and child health was consistent with the government's efforts to expand access to safe and quality reproductive healthcare services.
The visit also gave the Vice President an opportunity to assess healthcare delivery from the perspective of people using the services, rather than relying solely on institutional reports.
Mount Meru Regional Referral Hospital is among the key health facilities serving residents of Arusha and patients referred from surrounding areas.
After the hospital visit, Mr Ndejembi toured parts of Arusha City, where he interacted with residents and observed the condition of the urban environment.