The Sunday News
Robin Muchetu Senior Reporter
UNETHICAL practices have been exposed at one of the country’s nursing schools with student nurses being forced to buy books and other equipment from hospital officials at inflated prices, a situation that has seen some students being sent away for not complying, Sunday News has learnt.Information from sources at United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) School of Nursing say when students enrolled at the school in September, they were given a list of requirements which they were supposed to have upon commencement of training.
The sources said on the list were nine textbooks which were to be bought from the school but they were too expensive for the students such that they opted to buy the books in South Africa.
One of the books that is required is reportedly being sold for $200 at the school while it costs about R900 in South Africa. Students questioned why they are being forced to buy books that are only required next year.
“We were told to buy books by the end of this week but some of them are only needed next year and again they are too costly for us. That is why we opted to get them in South Africa and they have threatened to deduct the money from our salaries,” said a student.
It is alleged that the hospital authorities were furious when they discovered students had found cheaper places to buy the books such that they imposed that all remaining textbooks be bought from them.
One of the textbooks, which they were made to buy at the school, Medical-Surgical Nursing by Brunner and Suddart, costs R927 on South African online shop Kalahari.com yet the school is allegedly selling it for $200 to the students.
Another textbook, Anatomy of Nursing by Ross and Wilson costs R317 on Kalahari.com while the school pegged it at $70. A Nurses Dictionary is R126 on the same website while students bought it for $35.
A large number of the students told the Sunday News that they struggled to comply with all the school’s requirements when lessons commenced and the high cost of books is not making it any easier.
Sources at the hospital also said that some students were sent away from tutorials for not having bought the books. Others are also alleged to have been advanced sets of uniforms which will be deducted from their salaries too.
Students were later told that they were going to be advanced text books on credit which will then be deducted from their salaries.
A letter from the UBH School of Nursing that Sunday News is in possession of clearly states a list of nine books that a student should have on commencement of studies.
“The following are required by each student in training as books are difficult to obtain. You are advised to obtain these as soon as confirmation of your acceptance for student nurse training has been received. It is essential that you purchase these books before commencement of training,” read part of the offer letter.
What is interesting to note on the offer letter is a section which reads: “NB: . . .Before purchasing any books check with the School of Nursing.”
The students said this was a deliberate move by the school authorities to sell to them the books at the exorbitant price.
The Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr David Parirenyatwa, said the ministry has core books that they provide to the students when tutorials start.
“As ministry and as a matter of policy in educating the nurses, we are supposed to have core books that we provide. Anything extra, one can purchase alone. However, if the students are having money deducted from their salaries when they come through then I have to investigate. That is a big detail that I am not aware of at the moment,” Dr Parirenyatwa said.
The UBH public relations officer, Matron Nobuhle Taka, said they had launched an investigation after getting wind of the activity.
“All I can say at the moment is that we have launched an investigation into this issue and we are very close to closing the net on the culprits. We have heard some information but I will have more details next week,” she said.
In July, scores of nursing students at UBH were reportedly kicked out of the hostels for allegedly failing to pay $25 for the rehabilitation of the institution.
The hospital authorities had asked students to each contribute the funds but few students chipped in. However, sources said the hospital authorities suddenly evicted all students, save for those from outside the city.
The claims were later rubbished by the hospitals chief executive officer, Mrs Nonhlanhla Ndlovu.
