Should user fees at hospitals be removed?
Author : teriann
The entrance to The Spanish Town Hospital copyright The Gleaner 2010
Nobody likes getting sick and going to the hospital. However, in Jamaica if you get sick, you also have to hope that you have enough money to either pay for it privately or travel abroad.
The wait at the public hospitals is worsened by the inadequate staff and overcrowded conditions. After waiting for a long time without seeing a doctor, I know of persons who get so frustrated that they leave the hospital as sick as they arrived.
So has removing user fees solved this problem?
Well let’s face it, the health sector has many inefficiencies but it is my opinion that because it is now ‘free’ it created a further strain on the already overburdened system.
Although there are some persons who now have access to health care that were unable to have before the removal of user fees, they too will suffer if they are not able to enjoy quality care because of insufficient supplies or personnel.
Under these conditions it suits you to stay healthy! So what do you think? Should user fees at hospitals be reinstated?
Click the link to read more about poor hospital conditions.
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20101128/lead/lead4html
Teri Ann Renee Paisley (Gleaner on-line writer)
Tags: fees, hospitals, inadequate staff
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45 Responses to “Should user fees at hospitals be removed?”
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User fees in hospitals offer hope for people who cannot ordinarily afford to go to a private doctor. The overall system needs to be adjusted so that who can pay should pay, but if you cant afford it, it should still be accessible.
No user fees
Your question is one that I never thought about before really. My answer just came to me when I saw the title of your blog.
Yes, I do believe that hospital user fees should be reinstated. I agree with the reason that free healthcare puts pressure on the system both where finances and personnel are concerned. My other reason is, at the risk of sounding cruel, that a vast number of the persons who come in to the hospitals are there for lifestyle diseases. That is, they are ill because of the way they live. There are programmes on radio and (I think) on television that are geared toward teaching people how to lead healthy lifestyles. But instead of listening to and viewing those programmes, we hold on to Raggashanti and Dear Pastor, ignoring programmes like An Ounce of Prevention. Some of us find all kinds of excuses for “not being able” to purchase and prepare healthy foods, such as very basic carrots and lettuce. Yet, check our spending on products that are more than unnecessary. So since we choose to dig our graves with our teeth, we should be required to pay the user fees when we have to seek medical attention.
My sympathy, however, goes out to those persons who must attend hospital for other kinds of reasons. Prudence dictates, however, that we still charge user fees. My response may be controversial, but, I do believe it is only fair.
In order to afford user fees, persons can choose to save (instead of buying goods and services that are not totally necessary) just in case medical emergencies and resulting expenses surface.
What the government needs to do is increase the incentive to keep doctors and nurses in the country and not suffer a brain drain. The issue here doesn’t seem to one of money but one of resources. We need more doctors and nurses qualifying and staying in the island which means better levels of pay and better working conditions.
It was never a policy in the past to deny medical care to anyone attending a government run medical facility if they could not afford registration fees. Therefore there was no reason, except political, to have removed user fees which were minimal, and which served to cushion the economic burden of providing health care moreso in a country that cannot afford it. Having worked in the system, what I observed was that the system became overburdned not by those who could not afford user fees, but by those who can afford private care. Check it out. It might be changing now because of the frustration being encountered. My suggestion is, exempt vulnerable groups (children, the aged, those on PATH, minimum wage earners etc.)The country just cann ot afford it!
I think that the excitement or noise that is being made about user fee is coming from a politcal choir; by this I mean, I think the people who oppose the government are embarrassed that for all those year the opposition was in office nothing of this magnitude was ever doen by them for the benefit of the people.
The governnment needs to revamp the system so it can work much better and more effiently.
Continue with i! Be not discouraged in good work, cause if you faint not you shall receive a reward.
Ut’s time the opposition and it cronies realise that they are no longer in office.
Nineteen years have certainly done great damage to their psychic.
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You made lots of good points. Keep up the great work. Thank you very much.
neccessary but protect those who cannot through the social services like PATHE. leave the money with the hospital so they can use it to improve their service
ALSO… healthcare has always been free. government policy has always been – since independence – that no one is to be denied care because of an inability to pay. user fees are intended to collect a contribution from those who can afford it.
user fees should be based on ability to pay and to reduce system abuse – unneccessary service – and not need.
this administration, instead of improving the policy, has worsened the system.
Im not going to express what every person else has already said, but I do would like to comment on your information in the subject. Youre actually well-informed. I cant believe how significantly of this I just wasnt conscious of. Thank you for bringing far more data to this topic for me. Im genuinely grateful and truly impressed.
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Yes, computerised the NIS & TRN system and all users under age 63 females 65 males or physically handicap should pay, based on salary a tiny percent payment, or bill to them (create a billing dept.= more jobs) If they refuse to pay in the future unless they catch a heart attack, stroke or appendicitis the next visit they have to pay cash Before any more treatments. Govt cannot pay everything ppl buy clothing,shoes luxury items and go to all the concerts then cry about paying a little for their own healthcare.
With user fees machines can get fixed and purchases can be made, more ppl hired, less
stress on the doctors and nurses to find medical supplies thats short due to lack of money, enabling less overcrowding at the hospitals because the clinics can handle cold, flu, pink-eye, sore-foot and so on during the days.
Every maternity pre/post natal visits there should be a charge I think especially those ppl having a child every other year, its taxing on our health system and the mother is not taking care of her own health having babies
so often shes depending on tax-payers and the govt to carry her health-care burden
No to the re-introduction of user fees. It was always a know fact that the system would experienced an increase in the number of persons seeking treatment. That undoubtedly has been a direct result of the “no user fee”, affording more persons who would otherwise not seek treatment because of the discriminatory nature of the screen process to determine eligibility to pay. Also I know from experience that non-emergency patient would only be seen after they are registered and fees paid.
It should also be noted that persons who can afford to pay for medical care do not go the public hospitals and clinics, they go to private institutions.
A resounding YES, for ALL on the minimum wage, or no job. Hustling or making a “food” will not count as a job.
I am T.L.G.
I have listened to all the comments before and I truly undersatnd where everyone is coming from…but have we thought about what is happening in our country. Say as much as you say, the people of this coun try could only get basic care during the times of user fees..if they had to do tests, scans or surgery they had to pay. Think about it when last have u seen an article in the papers asking for medical help..the only time u see it now is when the person has to go overseas. The majority of our population cannot even afford to buy food much less pay for medical help.
I no it is not perfect but with no user fees the country will ensure less pressure on the country’s health care in the future. ‘A stitch in time saves nine’.
Trust me the people who seek medical care at the public hospitals cannot afford it..those who can will not subject themselves to the long waiting lines etc.
Have a little patience I think the Ministry is having some teething pains but like every other business it will get better.
Its a new year..start of a new decade..lets think positively. In that light let us use this medium to thank all the staff who are under extreme pressure for their good selfless work.
It is sheer stupidity of the Hospital Administrations that have them suffering from lack of user fees.
For one thing, it should be clearly posted that only emergencies and REAL illnesses should be treated at the Hospital. Go to a doctor or the local clinic for fresh cold and bellyache. You would be surprised how many people with ‘cut finger’ turn up at Hospital now that it is free. Otherwise, they would go to the clinic.
Next, my company gives Medical Insurance to all of its employees. On more than one occasion employees have reported to me that when they presented their medical insurance card after receiving treatment at the hospital, they were told that the hospital did not collect fees. These treatments have often been complicated emergency, life-saving surgery.
What then, the purpose of my company pumping millions into a health insurance plan for our workers? It is the same stupidity that has the University of the West Indies ‘cutting” their costs this year.
Many middle aged people can afford to pay University fees and will pay, but guess what? UWI wants them to have straight A’s or have graduated already from a first degree with an honors degree in order to come back to do another first degree. So, the person who would gladly invest a 500K in their own personal improvement, and by doing so help to subsidize the young student coming in, is shunned. So we are doing our degrees elsewhere.Tough titty UWI!
The Administrators of these institutions have no sense, just pride in self.
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Because user fees have have removed, some of those who could afford to go private now attend hospital for free treatment. There should be a system in place that those who could afford to pay should do so.
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USER FEES should never be in HOSPTALS. THE POOR people cannot afford to pay the cost, and of course you will ONLY create MORE SICKNESS and depression when you start to charge people for services.LET everyone in JAMAICA pay into the system, no matter how small the amount is.
PAY into the system and REAP the benefit. THE RICH can afford to pay for hospital services, but the poor people just can’t.
WHEN the former administration was in power, I heard DAILY or HOURLY CRYING and BAWLING, and WEEPING of the people of Jamaica about Hospital’s fees. THEY couldn’t even go to hospitals when they were sick, because of the high cost.WITHOUT user’s fees, ONLY a few people complain toady, and ALL THE POOR PEOPLE WHO ARE SICK can afford to see a doctor. SO why think of re-instating the FEE? Wrong idea, and we all hope the government don’t do it.
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I love discussing anything related to Iconsumer » Should user fees at hospitals be removed? : A Jamaica Gleaner Blog. My cousin and I were just debating the issue a few days ago, so it’s kind of weird that you blogged about it here.