Hospital fees too high for Angolans
Authorities are exploring the possibility of scrapping hospital fees for vulnerable foreign nationals.
TUYEIMO HAIDULA
EEMBAXU
Ohangwena health director John Hango has proposed that hospital fees for vulnerable foreigners seeking medical attention at state hospitals should be abolished or subsidised by their countries of origin.
Hango, who was speaking during a meeting with Cunene provincial governor Gerdina Ulipamwe Didalelwa at Eembaxu in the Ohangwena Region, said it pains him that they are sometimes forced to demand payment from people who cannot afford it.
He was mainly referring to Angolan nationals who come to Namibia seeking medical attention.
Hango explained that a Namibian patient receiving treatment at a clinic pays N$4 while non-Namibians pay N$60 as a daily fee. At hospital outpatient departments, Namibians pay N$8 and non-Namibians N$100.
He added that the hospital outpatient fees after hours, on weekends and public holidays are N$20 for Namibians and N$150 for non-Namibians.
“A Namibian patient is also made to pay a once-off payment of N$20 for hospitalisation, while foreign patients are required to pay N$400 per day. This is catastrophic,” he said.
“The people we treat are not well off, so it makes no sense to ask for payment from someone who cannot honour it. I suggest our government pays half of the bill and the Angolan one gets invoiced to settle the other half,” Hango said.
Mortuary fees
The health director also used the opportunity to highlight that the mortuary is in possession of unclaimed bodies and he believes while some people want to claim their loved ones, the thought of settling the outstanding bill keeps them away.
He said Namibians pay a N$10 standard fee, which is doubled if the body remains in the mortuary for more than five days, while foreign bodies have a standing fee of N$100 per day.
"People travel long distances to access healthcare. We cannot watch them die at the gate, so we have to help them so we can continue to save lives," Hango said.
He also lamented the closure of the Oshikango border post as a result of Covid-19 and asked the Angolan government to reopen its border. He said over 300 tuberculosis (TB) and HIV patients living along the border are now unable to come for follow-up appointments.
"Healthcare workers cannot take any blood samples and we need to know if their medication should be changed to another dose,” he said.
Didalelwa told Hango that she would instruct a task team to propose solutions in line with the laws of both countries.
Ohangwena governor Walde Ndevashiya said he too would have to consult with the relevant authorities to see whether the suggestion could be implemented.
- [email protected]
EEMBAXU
Ohangwena health director John Hango has proposed that hospital fees for vulnerable foreigners seeking medical attention at state hospitals should be abolished or subsidised by their countries of origin.
Hango, who was speaking during a meeting with Cunene provincial governor Gerdina Ulipamwe Didalelwa at Eembaxu in the Ohangwena Region, said it pains him that they are sometimes forced to demand payment from people who cannot afford it.
He was mainly referring to Angolan nationals who come to Namibia seeking medical attention.
Hango explained that a Namibian patient receiving treatment at a clinic pays N$4 while non-Namibians pay N$60 as a daily fee. At hospital outpatient departments, Namibians pay N$8 and non-Namibians N$100.
He added that the hospital outpatient fees after hours, on weekends and public holidays are N$20 for Namibians and N$150 for non-Namibians.
“A Namibian patient is also made to pay a once-off payment of N$20 for hospitalisation, while foreign patients are required to pay N$400 per day. This is catastrophic,” he said.
“The people we treat are not well off, so it makes no sense to ask for payment from someone who cannot honour it. I suggest our government pays half of the bill and the Angolan one gets invoiced to settle the other half,” Hango said.
Mortuary fees
The health director also used the opportunity to highlight that the mortuary is in possession of unclaimed bodies and he believes while some people want to claim their loved ones, the thought of settling the outstanding bill keeps them away.
He said Namibians pay a N$10 standard fee, which is doubled if the body remains in the mortuary for more than five days, while foreign bodies have a standing fee of N$100 per day.
"People travel long distances to access healthcare. We cannot watch them die at the gate, so we have to help them so we can continue to save lives," Hango said.
He also lamented the closure of the Oshikango border post as a result of Covid-19 and asked the Angolan government to reopen its border. He said over 300 tuberculosis (TB) and HIV patients living along the border are now unable to come for follow-up appointments.
"Healthcare workers cannot take any blood samples and we need to know if their medication should be changed to another dose,” he said.
Didalelwa told Hango that she would instruct a task team to propose solutions in line with the laws of both countries.
Ohangwena governor Walde Ndevashiya said he too would have to consult with the relevant authorities to see whether the suggestion could be implemented.
- [email protected]
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