News / Health
Hospital detains patients over hospital bills
17 Apr 2013 at 05:26hrs | Views
MASVINGO General Hospital is allegedly detaining patients who fail to settle their hospital bills in a bid to force them to pay.
Scores of patients admitted to the referral hospital have suffered the humiliation of being held "captive" after the doctors have discharged them, a practice Masvingo provincial medical director Dr Robert Mudyiradima said is illegal.
According to sources at the hospital, the most affected were patients referred from district hospitals. These are reportedly spending weeks at the hospital . after being discharged as relatives run around to raise the required money.
Those from around Masvingo City are allowed to pay half their bills but only after producing proof of residence in the form of water and electricity statements.
Last year the health institution had to engage the services of debt collectors to recover money it was owed by patients.
Dr Mudyiradima said while he was not aware of the detention of patients at the hospital, it was illegal to hold patients hostage for failing to pay bills.
He said his office was going to investigate the matter.
"It is not Government policy to detain patients on the grounds that they have not paid their medical bills. Although I am not aware of this situation, I understand the hospital has a payment plan for patients who fail to pay. If they fail then we are mandated to engage debt collectors to recover the money," said Dr Mudyiradima.
He said hospitals were operating on a shoe-string budgets and patients should therefore understand that without their support the healtn delivery system would be compromised.
Scores of patients admitted to the referral hospital have suffered the humiliation of being held "captive" after the doctors have discharged them, a practice Masvingo provincial medical director Dr Robert Mudyiradima said is illegal.
According to sources at the hospital, the most affected were patients referred from district hospitals. These are reportedly spending weeks at the hospital . after being discharged as relatives run around to raise the required money.
Those from around Masvingo City are allowed to pay half their bills but only after producing proof of residence in the form of water and electricity statements.
Last year the health institution had to engage the services of debt collectors to recover money it was owed by patients.
Dr Mudyiradima said while he was not aware of the detention of patients at the hospital, it was illegal to hold patients hostage for failing to pay bills.
He said his office was going to investigate the matter.
"It is not Government policy to detain patients on the grounds that they have not paid their medical bills. Although I am not aware of this situation, I understand the hospital has a payment plan for patients who fail to pay. If they fail then we are mandated to engage debt collectors to recover the money," said Dr Mudyiradima.
He said hospitals were operating on a shoe-string budgets and patients should therefore understand that without their support the healtn delivery system would be compromised.
Source - TC
