Govt closes IMTU hospital

Dar es Salaam. The ministry of Health and Social Welfare yesterday ordered the closure of the 100-bed capacity hospital operating within the campus of the International Medical and Technological University (IMTU), on grounds that it did not meet the standards of operating as a hospital.

However, the university’s fate is awaiting a probe committee report over it’s involvement in the “unethical dumping of human organs” at Bunju in Dar es Salaam.

Addressing reporters yesterday, the hospital’s director, Prof Yassin Mgonda, said IMTU hospital has been given time to improve on five aspects and report to the Health ministry for approval before they can be allowed to resume operations. But the most important, and which prompted the closure, was the lack of a functioning incinerator for disposal of medical waste emanating from the facility.

IMTU hospital has also been operating an unregistered pharmacy which will also be out of service until the ministry approves its standards.  All health workers have been ordered to report to the facility daily but not offer any treatment to anyone who would seek health care.

By the time of closure, no patients were present at the facility and according to Prof Mgonda, the number of patients seeking care from IMTU had been declining ever since the organs saga broke out.

The hospital had not yet been approved for teaching and internship programmes so the IMTU students will continue with their practical attachments at Mwanayamala Hospital, Mbeya Referral Hospital and Muhimbili National Hospital.

 Speaking to The Citizen on Saturday yesterday, the IMTU Deputy Vice Chancellor, Dr Fariji Mtango, said he was relieved that the university has not been closed because it would have been more challenging to handle their’ schedules and reallocation to other universities.

Commenting on the dumping of organs, Dr Mtango said: “This scandal has damaged our reputation, but,” he added “we are waiting for a probe committee set by the government yesterday to come up with a report”.

There were no clear details as to why the ministry chose to close the hospital and not the university.