Nakaseke leaders endorse charges at district hospital

Kakaseke. Authorities in Nakaseke District have endorsed a proposal to have patients pay standard fees for services at the private wing of Nakaseke Hospital.
This comes two years after the facility was refurbished by government under the Ministry of Health Sector Support Project.
Payment for medical services at the hospital has been at the centre of contention with several residents, including a section of politicians, accusing the hospital management of extorting money from patients yet the facility is owned by government.
At the height of the debate and counter accusations, the Nakaseke District Chief Administrative Officer, Mr John Katotoroma, in a September 28 letter wrote to the hospital management inquiring about the alleged extortion by some staff, something that attracted the attention of the district council.
Under this new arrangement, a mother seeking normal delivery from the private wing will pay Shs24,000 whereas those at the general wards pay Shs15,000 for the same service.
In the Caesarean Section, patients will part with Shs60,000 at the private wing, while at the general wards, mothers pay Shs30,000.
Other listed charges include; hernia repair (Shs60,000), laparotomy (surgical procedure involving a large incision through the abdominal wall) (Shs90,000), consultation (Shs5,000) and X-ray, Shs10,000.
Staying in a single room per night at the private wing will cost Shs15, 000 while a double room per night will go for Shs20, 000.
According to Mr Richard Muvuma, the Nakaseke District vice chairperson, the district council has already passed a resolution approving the standard charges.
“We came up with these standard charges to avoid scenarios where medics could charge patients any amount they want for a cheaper service,” he said.
But expressed fear that charging what he described exorbitant fees at the private wing would compromise services at the general wards.
“It is very true that everybody would wish to use the private wing since the services are better including the extra care extended to the patients by the medical personnel. We do not want the services at the general wards and Out Patient Department to be compromised,” Mr Johnson Kamuhangire, the district councilor representing persons with disabilities said in an interview.
Patients are also already paying some little money to access services at the general wards.
Ms Mariam Kaberuka, the chairperson Nakaseke Hospital management committee, said they arrived at the decision to introduce standard fees at the private wing after seeking advice from the Ministry of Health.
“We sought advice from the Ministry of Health after we got this challenge. We were advised to have a district council resolution in support of the standard charges,” Kaberuka told the Daily Monitor in an interview on Friday.
Government has already announced that it would introduce similar arrangement at Mulago National Referral which is also undergoing rehabilitation.
The fees charged at the newly opened Mulago specialised Women and Neonatal hospital have already scared away a section of Ugandans who say the charges are exorbitant.
Women seeking medical attention at the facility part with Shs50, 000 per visit in consultation fee and Shs13m for specialised treatment.
The Speaker of Parliament, Ms Rebecca Kadaga, is opposed to the idea of charging money from patients who will seek treatment at the renovated Mulago National Referral Hospital. She describes it as a death sentence to majority of poor people in the country.
Mulago Hospital Executive Director Byarugaba Baterana has defended the proposal, saying once they charge a fee, proceeds will cater for deficiencies in the lower grade medical centres where medical attention is free of charge.