Scotsman.com News - International - Zimbabwe announces 3,000% rise in hospital charges: "Zimbabwe announces 3,000% rise in hospital charges
ANGUS SHAW IN HARARE
ZIMBABWEANS, already reeling from the effects of rampant inflation, received another shock yesterday when health authorities announced up to 30-fold increases in state hospital fees.
Edwin Maguti, the deputy health minister, said consultation fees in accident and emergency departments in the main government hospitals would increase 3,000 per cent to nearly one million Zimbabwe dollars with immediate effect, state radio reported.
Surgery will cost the equivalent of about 55p a minute, more than the average Zimbabwean earns in a day. District hospitals and clinics will charge about 15 times more.
Special fees for the elderly, impoverished and other vulnerable groups remain unchanged, along with immunisation programmes, Mr Maguti said, adding that patients trying to cheat the system by claiming this status would be fined.
Mr Maguti said the increases were necessary to shore up crumbling public health services and ease overcrowding"
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
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