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Malawiintroduceshospitalbypassfees:PeggedatK1,500|MalawiNyasaTimesMalawibreakingnewsinMalawi

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Malawi introduces hospital bypass fees: Pegged at K1,500

March 18, 2015

Nyasa Times Reporter

Health, Politics

87 comments

Malawi government has introduced user fees for walk in patients in major public hospitals who seek treatment without being referred by
either nearest health facilities which is pegged at K1500 per patient.
Minister of Health Dr Jean Kalirani disclosed recently that government will
introduce paying fees in all its public hospitals be used to finance a health
fund to address underfunding within the health sector.
Ministry of Health spokesperson Henry Chimbali said Wednesday that the
fees would be levied on patients bypassing government health centres
within their vicinity opting to access medical services at major referral
hospitals.
Government has introduced these paying services in the major referral
hospitals to address underfunding within the health sector, he added
Through the bypass, he said, the government wished to allocate 40
percent of the collected revenue from the charges towards hospital staff
incentives and the remaining would be earmarked for maintenance.

Kalirani: User fees

Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) director Jonathan Ngoma said the fee
called bypass is a token designed to decongest the hospital and encouraging sufferers to seek treatment at the health centres.
Malawis government hospitals offer free services to the citizenry. Often times the hospitals have suffered drug and medical equipment
shortages problems that have been blamed on lack of enough funding.
However, the issue of user fees remain contentious with with Global Hope Mobilisation (Glohomo) executive director Caleb Thole criticised
the introduction of consultation charges as a violation of access to free and quality healthcare services.
Research has shown that user fees or any form of payment in a government hospitals is no an effective form of health financing as it is
only capable of mobilising five percent to 10 percent of recurrent budgets,
In the long run it also reduces efficiency of demand for health services through decreasing demand for appropriate health care among
poorer and vulnerable groups and the beginning of bypass fee is part
of it, there is just no difference, the poor is paying anway, Thole said .
Global development and advocacy charity, Oxfam, recently warned government against heeding calls to introduce user fees in the countrys
hospitals, warning that the move will hurt the countrys poor.
Government was also urged in a local newspaper editorial to put in place measures that would ensure money made from the user fees
from public health institutions indeed goes towards improving delivery of health services and not towards enriching people who only care
about their pockets even where they put a number of lives at risk.
Currently, Ministry of Health has proposed introduction of health risk taxes on alcohol and cigarretes as one way of revenue generation
measures to complement resources it gets from its partners and the national budget.
In the K780 billion revised 2014/2015 national buget, Parliament allocated K69 billion to the Ministry of Health. In contrast, the ministrys
total health expenditure was projected at K274 billion for the year.
Jonathan Ngoma

Ministry of Health

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87 thoughts on Malawi introduces hospital bypass fees: Pegged at K1,500

83

Kiss Wicked Lester says:

March 19, 2015 at 2:34 pm
did you catch peter on that metal show?
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82

Brave Nyanyaluwa says:

March 19, 2015 at 2:04 pm
In the first place this started long time ago like 2009 at KCH skin department. It seems good but on the other hand no. In most cases these
moneys dont go to Govt they end up in peoples pockets. Its either an attendant or someone else. They issue GRs without a stamp etc. If
they rectify this I stand to support it. Uku ndiye kuwapatsa danga kuti adye ndithu.
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81

Mugonapamuhanya says:
March 19, 2015 at 12:55 pm
It is true Malawi is not poor but Malawians are. They are poor in the head. How do you think Malawi can develop when its citizens are just
staying phwii waiting for free maize, free education, free fertilizers, free medicine in hospitals, free houses etc? Those of you who say that
Malawians are poor to afford hospital fees are senseless individuals who are against development. Did you know that fees at traditional
healers (singingas) are exorbitant yet they are the favorites to the same poor villagers? Malawians in rural areas are known for big and
lavish weddings and funerals, does the govt pay for such things? Salt and chigayo are never free yet every household afford them.
Secondary school education is not free yet it is dominated by the same poor rural folks. Dont exargerate things. Cyclists in Mozambique
pay tax for their bicycles and do not complain. Its time to move forward.
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