Somaliland’s Opposition Party Slams Government for Poor Healthcare Service

Somaliland’s main Opposition Party, Waddani, has slammed the government for poor healthcare service provision in the wake of tragic deaths caused by medical oxygen shortage.

Ali Antar, speaking at a press conference at his party quarters today heaped criticism on the government for substandard healthcare services. He accused the government-run hospital of commercializing the health service it provides to the public.

The opposition official told heartbreaking stories of two children dying in Hargeisa Hospital because of a lack of medical oxygen to assist them to breathe. The latest such incident happened two days ago.  A two-year-old girl perished while her parents were trying to fetch oxygen from a private company.

Ali Antar said the government-run hospital demands people to buy all the medicine and equipment used for their treatment. He alleged that this practice amounts to the commercialization of healthcare. 

However, the Waddani party official said the poor service provision is not limited to the shortage of medical oxygen. He alleged that doctors are not available at long stretches of time to treat patients. Further, he criticized the sanitation of the hospital saying it turned to a dump. 

Ali Antar finally called on the government to improve the quality of service in public hospitals to avoid unnecessary and preventable deaths.