PMH denies �cash upfront or die� policy
Baboki Kayawe | Tuesday July 5, 2016 15:57
The teacher employed on contract basis at Goodhope Senior Secondary School, met her fate while being transported to Princess Marina Hospital (PMH) when an ambulance she was travelling in collided with a truck along the Lobatse-Gaborone road near Kgale Mews. The police have confirmed the accident.
“I can confirm that such an accident was registered last week. And that is the only incident of that nature recorded along that road,” said Old Naledi station commander, King Tshebo.
However, officials have defended health practitioners and rubbished the reports as unfounded.
Sources close to the victim say the hospital’s Emergency and Accident department sent the Zimbabwean teacher from pillar to post demanding an upfront payment of P4,000 before any assistance could be rendered.
“She was bloody, breathing heavily after the traumatising incident and pain was visible all over her face; she was critical but they made her wait for a very long time. They demanded that she pays the fee or else no help would be rendered,” said a source who declined to be named for fear of victimisation.
Another source who also opted for anonymity criticised the policy as inhumane if lives could be neglected at the expense of a fee.
“It is not a good policy, it is totally against professional codes of conduct if health practitioners can prioritise money over human life,” said the source.
While the Ministry of Health spokesperson, Doreen Motshegwa was unaware of the incident, she acknowledged the existence of a policy that requires expatriate patients to pay higher health tariffs relative to locals.
She could not go into the details of the policy besides that children under the age of five had free access to health services. Nonetheless, she said professional and ethical conduct dictates that a patient be stabilised regardless of payment.
“While a policy exists the expectation and in fact professionalism demands that a patient be assisted whether or not they paid health fees upfront.
“We encourage health practitioners to extend services to all people - locals and expatriates whenever the need arises and payment can always be arranged for,” she added.
“I don’t believe that there are health practitioners who can do that, they are trained to save lives,” added Motshegwa.
Reiterating Motshegwa’s position, Princess Marina Hospital spokesperson Donnell Kutlapye denied reports that the patient waited long for medical assistance.
“The patient was triaged immediately and seen by a medical doctor at 1650hrs. After extensive examination by a doctor the patient was first given relevant medication at 1702hrs and then second medication at 1730hrs,” he said.
Kutlapye insisted that the patient, who arrived at the referral facility with a head injury, was stabilised “prior to discussing the payment issue”.
“The patient did not wait long since she was helped immediately upon arrival at the hospital. The moment a patient is helped at triage room she is already getting help. Our help might involve different departments. But Accident & Emergency attended the patient right away and ascertained that her life was not in danger,” he said.
He added that, the expectant mother then had to wait to be admitted to the department she was referred to by Goodhope Primary Hospital. However she had to be taken to the ward at 2210hrs, when she was stable, Kutlapye said.
“What is critical is that she was triaged immediately and seen by a doctor within seven minutes which is good enough given her condition at triage,” he said.
Kutlapye explained that whenever a patient is registered at PMH, they have to pay accordingly, but if a patient does not have money at their disposal, an arrangement for later payment is made.
Locals pay health service fees ranging from P5 up to P80, while foreigners pay between P30 and P3,578.