Hospitals told not to charge fees

HOSPITALS and other public health facilities have been directed to stop charging fees for patients who are victims of domestic or sexual violence, child abuse and women and children injured in tribal fights.
A Health Department circular issued last November, further instructed hospitals, urban and rural health centres not to charge fees for doctors’ and medical reports relating to such cases.
The department urged hospital chief executive officers, provincial health advisers and
officers in charge of district health centres to comply with the directive to ensure the welfare and health needs of women and children were met.
The department further concluded that the charging of fees in these instances would only be a hindrance to achieving the national health goal in reducing maternal mortality rate and survivors seeking justice.