Proprietors of private hospitals have requested State House’s Anti-Corruption Unit to give them upto Monday, to review the cost of treating Covid-19 patients and report to government next week.
Although they resolved to review the charges per day after meeting Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja on Monday to iron out a few things, they promised that a harmonized position on how much a Covid-19 patient will pay in private facilities will be communicated next week.
Col Edith Nakalema, the head of the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, convened an emergency meeting with the owners of private hospitals after several complaints about “exorbitant daily charges” to treat a critically ill patient which go as high as Shs5 million.
The owners of private hospitals also requested the government to involve them in the procurement of essential supplies for Covid-19 treatment.
They complained about the cost of personal protective equipment (PPEs), asked the government to help them set up oxygen plants in health facilities and waive some of the taxes.
Grace Ssali Kiwanuka, the executive director of Uganda Health Care Federation, the umbrella body for private players in the health sector in the country, said they are going to hold meetings with the members to reach practical resolutions.
Ms Kiwanuka said among the issues that private hospitals will iron out in their meeting include reviewing costs and bills, areas of concession on oxygen, daily payment for health workers which are contributing to the high charges for treatment.
