News / Local
BCC reduces maternity fees
20 Dec 2010 at 15:27hrs | Views
EXPECTING mothers have been given an early New Year present by the Bulawayo City Council, which has slashed maternity fees at its clinics by 40 percent, with effect from 1 January.
The fees have been reduced from US$50 to US$30.
However, the new fee structure applies only to expecting mothers who register their pregnancies at clinics.
Unregistered expecting mothers who go to the clinics to deliver would still pay US$50.
Speaking after the presentation of the 2011 council budget on Friday, Councillor Phinias Ndlovu of Ward 14 said the council had come up with a pro-poor 2011 budget that is expected to bring relief to overburdened residents.
"We debated with other councillors and felt that the fees were too high and a majority of residents cannot afford them. We therefore agreed that they should be reduced to US$30," said Clr Ndlovu.
According to a council report that is in Chronicle's possession, the maternity fees were reduced after residents raised concern about them, during the extensive consultations that council held with stakeholders, to formulate the 2011 budget.
Most residents were of the opinion that maternity fees at council clinics were too high and there were no drugs at the institutions.
The local authority responded to the query by saying: "The fee is US$50 and it is far below the cost of inputs. Council has always allowed expecting mothers to pay in instalments, starting with at least US$5 and drugs are available."
A number of residents had raised the complaint at most of the budget consultation meetings, so it was brought for debate before councillors.
After intense discussion, they agreed to reduce the fees.
The city's director of health services, Dr Zanele Hwalima, said the fees did not apply to cases that got referred to Mpilo Central Hospital.
"With regard to complicated cases that are referred to Mpilo Hospital, the appropriate fees were set by the Government. Queries should accordingly be directed to the hospitals.
"The US$30 maternity fee will only be paid at council clinics by registered expecting mothers. Those who will not have registered will still pay US$50," said Dr Hwalima.
During a media briefing in October, Dr Hwalima said the US$50 maternity fee was heavily subsidised by council because the consumables used when attending to expecting mothers, up to delivery, cost about US$80.
The figure was exclusive of charges for the services of the health workers who attend to pregnant women.
The fees have been reduced from US$50 to US$30.
However, the new fee structure applies only to expecting mothers who register their pregnancies at clinics.
Unregistered expecting mothers who go to the clinics to deliver would still pay US$50.
Speaking after the presentation of the 2011 council budget on Friday, Councillor Phinias Ndlovu of Ward 14 said the council had come up with a pro-poor 2011 budget that is expected to bring relief to overburdened residents.
"We debated with other councillors and felt that the fees were too high and a majority of residents cannot afford them. We therefore agreed that they should be reduced to US$30," said Clr Ndlovu.
According to a council report that is in Chronicle's possession, the maternity fees were reduced after residents raised concern about them, during the extensive consultations that council held with stakeholders, to formulate the 2011 budget.
Most residents were of the opinion that maternity fees at council clinics were too high and there were no drugs at the institutions.
The local authority responded to the query by saying: "The fee is US$50 and it is far below the cost of inputs. Council has always allowed expecting mothers to pay in instalments, starting with at least US$5 and drugs are available."
A number of residents had raised the complaint at most of the budget consultation meetings, so it was brought for debate before councillors.
After intense discussion, they agreed to reduce the fees.
The city's director of health services, Dr Zanele Hwalima, said the fees did not apply to cases that got referred to Mpilo Central Hospital.
"With regard to complicated cases that are referred to Mpilo Hospital, the appropriate fees were set by the Government. Queries should accordingly be directed to the hospitals.
"The US$30 maternity fee will only be paid at council clinics by registered expecting mothers. Those who will not have registered will still pay US$50," said Dr Hwalima.
During a media briefing in October, Dr Hwalima said the US$50 maternity fee was heavily subsidised by council because the consumables used when attending to expecting mothers, up to delivery, cost about US$80.
The figure was exclusive of charges for the services of the health workers who attend to pregnant women.
Source - BCC
