adminBongani Ndlovu Chronicle Correspondent
Bulawayo City Council has re-introduced the $30 maternity service fee that was scrapped two years ago after government approved its 2014 budget. The arrangement between government and local authorities was that pregnant women would be attended to at council clinics and government would cover the costs.
The decision to scrap the fees came about after government in partnership with international development partners established the Health Transition Fund. The fund was expected to raise $400 million with some of the money channelled to hospitals and clinics offering free maternity services.
The latest council report shows the government failed to pay over $350,000 in claims by the council during the period despite reminders.
The report shows the local authority’s clinics started charging the fees on Monday.
“Following the advice received from the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, that the council’s 2014 budget had been approved, the health services department would now introduce maternity fees at the clinics with effect from September 1, 2014,” read the report.
“It would be recalled that in July 2012, the Ministry of Health and Child Care directed that maternity services be offered free and undertook to reimburse council at a rate of $30 per delivery.”
“The Ministry of Health settled for the subsidised fee of $30 despite being informed that the actual cost incurred to deliver this service was at least $85.
“To date, council had submitted claims to the value of $414,000 and so far only $42,420 was received in October 2012,” read the report.
The maternity services fee of $30 will cover the whole period from antenatal care, to delivery and up to six weeks post delivery.
“The fee would be chargeable to all mothers who would not have delivered by August 31, 2014. The payment may be staggered over the antenatal period to delivery,” read the minutes.
Ever since the scrapping of user fees in 2013, Bulawayo hospitals and clinics have failed to cope with the influx of pregnant women seeking medical services.
This led to a lowering of standards with medical institutions struggling to provide quality services to expecting mothers.
Online Reporter