News / Local
Bulawayo hikes medical fees
14 Jan 2015 at 01:50hrs | Views
BULAWAYO City Council has increased consultation fees for medical aid users seeking treatment at council clinics and at its infectious diseases hospital in line with other health providers in the country.
Acting Health Director Dr Edwin Sibanda said those on medical aid will now pay more for consulting council doctors.
The Bulawayo City Council operates 19 clinics as well as Thorngrove Infectious Diseases Hospital.
According to the latest council minutes, Dr Sibanda said consultation fees for patients on medical aid were increased by the Ministry of Health and Child Care.
"In line with the above stated increases, the department has adopted the promulgated fees for patients on medical aid attended to by clinical medical officers at council clinics as per the government gazette of 23 May, 2014 General Notice 159 of 2014," he said.
The medical fees were reviewed from $20 to $35 for adults and from $8 to $17 for children.
Dr Sibanda said the fees structure was in line with charges outlined by the Ministry of Health and Child Care last year.
In September last year, the local authority re-introduced the $30 maternity fee that was scrapped by the government two years ago.
Council is however faced with a shortage of nurses and is operating at 62 percent capacity.
Acting Health Director Dr Edwin Sibanda said those on medical aid will now pay more for consulting council doctors.
The Bulawayo City Council operates 19 clinics as well as Thorngrove Infectious Diseases Hospital.
According to the latest council minutes, Dr Sibanda said consultation fees for patients on medical aid were increased by the Ministry of Health and Child Care.
"In line with the above stated increases, the department has adopted the promulgated fees for patients on medical aid attended to by clinical medical officers at council clinics as per the government gazette of 23 May, 2014 General Notice 159 of 2014," he said.
The medical fees were reviewed from $20 to $35 for adults and from $8 to $17 for children.
Dr Sibanda said the fees structure was in line with charges outlined by the Ministry of Health and Child Care last year.
In September last year, the local authority re-introduced the $30 maternity fee that was scrapped by the government two years ago.
Council is however faced with a shortage of nurses and is operating at 62 percent capacity.
Source - chronicle
