HARGEISA, Somaliland —(Horn Post) Kidney dialysis patients at Hargeisa Group Hospital protested rising out-of-pocket medical expenses, prompting criticism from Somaliland opposition leaders after the Health Minister described the demonstration as politically motivated.
Kidney dialysis patients at Hargeisa Group Hospital staged a protest outside the hospital on Wednesday, complaining about the high costs of essential medical supplies despite receiving government financial assistance.
The demonstrators, who gathered near the Somaliland Presidency and House of Representatives, said the government subsidy does not cover the actual costs of dialysis-related medical items.
Patients claimed they receive 50,000 Somaliland shillings toward a dialysis needle that costs 25,000 shillings, while they are allocated 15,000 Somaliland shillings for IV cannulas that cost 6,000 shillings, alleging discrepancies in procurement and pricing at the hospital. They called on authorities to investigate the hospital’s purchasing system and ensure greater transparency.
The protest quickly drew political attention after officials from the opposition KAAH Party accused the government of dismissing legitimate public grievances instead of addressing concerns about healthcare services.
KAAH leader Omar Said criticized the government’s response, saying the Health Minister should have promised an investigation rather than characterizing the protesting patients as acting against the state. He argued that the administration has increasingly responded to criticism through political accusations instead of resolving public service complaints.
The party’s Central Committee Secretary, Abdikhalak Awal-bari, also questioned the government’s handling of the issue, urging the public to compare patients’ complaints with the Health Ministry’s response.
Responding to the allegations in an interview with Somaliland National Television, Health Minister Hussein Bashir Hirsi said the demonstration had been politically organized rather than arising solely from healthcare concerns.
The minister alleged that the protest had been coordinated by political actors, including foreign individuals, journalists, and poets, although he did not provide names or evidence to support those claims.
He maintained that kidney dialysis services are provided free of charge by the government and defended the ministry’s commitment to treating patients without discrimination.
The incident has sparked public debate in Somaliland, with critics arguing that patients raising concerns about healthcare services should be heard and their complaints independently investigated, while government officials insist the protest was politically motivated.
The controversy highlights broader concerns about healthcare affordability, accountability, and public trust in Somaliland’s health system.
Prepared by:
Horn Post Staff
HARGEISA, Somaliland
