Health facilities charging GH¢5 for utility bills

Some health facilities in the country are charging patients an extra GH¢5 for utility bills.

This is per a directive issued by the Director General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Ebenezer Appiah Denkyira.

The directive which was issued on May 12, 2015, said public hospitals would charge GH¢5 and health centres GH¢2 as cost sharing of hospital utilities with out-patient clients and those on admission.

The letter further directed that “this should be charged in consultations with regional health directors, MMDAs and traditional authorities before the charges come into effect.”

According to Citifmonline, some checks at some health facilities in the Western Region indicated that the directive has already taken effect.

At the Takoradi Government hospital, there were notices pasted at various locations which read: “Dear client, with effect from 1st June 2015, you are required to pay utility fee of GH5 per daily admission/OPD attendance and receipt shown at the various service points.”