Government Reveals Fees Structure for New Mulago Specialized Women and Neonatal Hospital
Mulago Specialized Women and Neonatal Hospital opened its doors this week. The Ministry of Health unveiled the structure of the standard charges for the newly launched hospital, which opened its doors on Monday, September 17, 2018. The state of the art health facility will be handling high risk antenatal services, reproductive medicine and Intro Vitro Fertilization (IVF) or Assisted Reproductive technology. According to Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng, the facility received 72 patients in its first two days.
Classification of Medical Services
On the day the facility was opened, Cabinet approved the fees that will be charged at the Hospital, for the various services which will be classified as Standard, Very Import Persons (VIP) and Very Very Important Person (VVIP). The VIP and VIIP services will be on the 9th floor of the facility. “These suites are customized with DSTV Services, private cooking areas and guest room, among others,” announced the minister. Aceng however clarified that the clinical services offered to all patient at all levels irrespective of pay, will be the same. The difference, she said, will be in accommodation, patient welfare and other non-clinical support services.
Analysis of Hospital Charges
According to Minister Aceng, the charges were arrived at after examining the costs of similar services within the country and where possible, a comparison with similar services abroad. “On average the standard rates are slightly equivalent to (60%) of the charges in other hospitals,” she said. The following table highlights the specific rates for key services:
| Service Category | Standard Charge (UGX) |
|---|---|
| Consultation fee | 50,000 |
| Admission (per day) | 80,000 |
| Intro Vitro Fertilization (IVF) | 1,300,000 |
The charges for standard services will be used as a basis for increment for VIP and VVIIP services at the rate of 25 percent and 50 percent respectively. However, Diagnostic (Imaging and Laboratory), Intensive Care Unit and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit services will be the same across all classifications. Under reproductive medicine, patients seeking IVF will be required to pay Shs. 1.3million, which she said is below what is currently charged by private health facilities.
Referral Guidelines and Patient Requirements
Patients were advised not to rush to the new facility with any kind of problem. Only those with referrals, the minister said will be admitted. Patients should begin from the Health facilities in the areas where they will be referred through the various levels of Health care system as stated in the Referral guidelines. All patients coming in, the minister said, will be expected to have referral notes and Ugandan nationals are advised come along with their national Identity cards.
Regarding specific patient groups, the Ministry noted the following:
- Foreigners: Coming from outside Uganda will be charged 25% more.
- Refugees: Services must be paid for by the supporting agencies such as UNHCR and Office of the Prime Minister.
- Exceptions: Patients accessing services should be referred except for those that are exclusively offered at Mulago Specialized Women and Neonatal Hospital such as IVF Laparoscope surgery.
The Waiver System and Eligibility
There will however be a Waiver System for patients unable to pay for the services. “A committee will be set up to assess the eligibility of the patients seeking a waiver. This committee will set guidelines on the eligibility criteria.” The committee will comprise of the Head of clinical services at the hospital (Deputy Director), Nurse in-charge, Medical Social Worker and Head of Administration.
Specialized Rehabilitation and Community Support
In related healthcare news, Specialized Rehabilitation Hospital, a leading healthcare institution specializing in rehabilitation and long-term medical care, is proud to announce a special celebration organized in partnership with the General Women’s Union and the Ministry of Health. This initiative underscored the importance of solidarity and support, reflecting the commitment to enhancing the lives of patients and fostering a sense of community. Specialized Rehabilitation Hospital, renowned for its state-of-the-art facilities and commitment to patient well-being, is proud to contribute to this celebration and provide a healing environment for patients on their journey to recovery.