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By Asma’u Ahmad
Following outcry from members of the public, Katsina State Government has withdrawn the earlier increment of 400 per cent charges in all public hospitals in the state.
A source in one of the hospitals who crave for anonymity told newsmen in Katsina that the charges were increased following a directive from the State Hospital Service Management Board and was later withdrawn through same process.
According to the source, all financial transactions within the hospital including department payments were centralised in one place which allowed patients to present their receipts for all services in the hospital.
The source said that the system would ensure transparency dealings as well as promote proper record keeping in the hospital.
Speaking to media men on the development, Hospital Friends Committee Chairman of Malumfashi General Hospital, Alhaji Shawai Alhassan, confirmed the increased charges and the withdrawal.
Alhaji Alhassan who is also the Education Secretary of Malumfashi Local Government Council, said they received several complaints from residents and forwarded same to relevant authorities.
He commended the governor for the reversal and urged people to ensure that they make payments at the right places established by the hospital management.
The increased charges included Out Patient Department (OPD) card registration from N20 to N100, malaria test from N50 to N150, antenatal registration N750 as against N150 and other charges on admission and laboratory tests.
The residents considered the charges as outrageous and appealed to Governor Aminu Bello Masari to reduce the charges in view of current financial difficulties in the country.
