Fees at Zimbabwe’s public hospitals have been increased by more than 2 700%, Harare’s Herald newspaper reported on Tuesday.
Its website said the move formed part of a drive to improve the quality of service in government hospitals.
Consultation fees in the casualty departments in central hospitals had jumped from Z$300 to Z$1-million while provincial and general hospitals would charge ZIM800 000.
District and mission hospitals would now charge Z$400 000. The new fees — which had been approved by Cabinet -‒ came shortly after a 100% fee hike by private doctors, clinics and hospitals.
The Herald said public hospitals had for a long time been failing to provide quality services and facilities owing to poor financial resources.
This was largely because the Z$300 they charged was no longer practical.
Very few people could lay their hands on a Z$100 note these days as mostly higher denominations were now being used.
Consultation fees in the outpatients departments at central hospitals were now pegged at Z$760 000 while children will pay Z$80 000
When admitted to an intensive care unit, one could now expect to pay Z$8,5-million a day while maternity fees would start from Z$1,3-million per day.
In theatre, people could now expect to pay Z$105 000 per minute.
Deputy Health Minister Dr Edwin Muguti said the government had revised the fees and charges to improve on service delivery.
”We also want to improve efficiency through rational use of services. I am sure you are aware that the referral chain has been under threat because of the small amounts that our hospitals have been charging,” he said.
”These increases should lead to a decongestion of casualty departments in our hospitals, leaving specialised personnel to deal with emergency cases only.”
People suffering from tuberculosis, leprosy, those aged 65 and above, and those in need of anti-retrovirals would be exempted from paying. – Sapa