KAMPALA – Government has released the medical fees structure for the new Mulago Specialized Women & Neonatal Hospital.
The Minister of Health, Dr Jane Aceng, said patients seeking treatment at the new Mulago Specialized Women and Neonatal Hospital will Shs50,000 as doctor’s consultation fees while those seeking in-vitro fertilization (IVF) will pay Shs13 million as well as 14 million for sperm injection.
The 450-bed capacity hospital, which will enable women with complex reproductive health problems to be treated and also reduce referrals abroad for specialized reproductive and Neonatal treatment, was officially handed over to the government last Friday and has started offering services but it will be officially opened on October 6.
While addressing Parliament on Tuesday, Dr Aceng defended the new charges, saying government had made thorough consultations on the charges by evening visiting other countries offering similar services.
“Services will be classified as standard, VIP and VVIP; Clinical services offered to all patients at all levels irrespective of pay, will be the same,” she said.
Dr Aceng said, for now, the facility will offer free services until October 9, 2018.
“Patients accessing the services should be referred patients from our referral facilities except for those that are exclusively offered at Mulago Specialised women and neonatal hospital such as IVF, laparoscopic surgery,” Dr Aceng said.
However, a section of the public and women rights activists have welcomed the Medical Fees Structures with criticism claiming the charges are too high for a common woman to afford.
Construction works for the 9-storey hospital was funded using a $25m loan from the Islamic Development Bank. The specialised equipment installed in the hospital cost at least $8m according to Health Minister Dr Jane Ruth Aceng. 180 health workers have also been trained in specialised maternal and neonatal services.
The hospital is designed to accommodate 450 patients with one attendant each. The hospital is all piped to enable medical gases, nitrous oxide and oxygen to be pumped directly to patients on their beds without using an oxygen cylinder. There is also a laboratory where urinal tests and cancer screenings can be conducted. The facility is expected to reduce maternal mortalities which the ministry confessed remains high at 336/100,000 compared to the global rate of 216/100,000 live births.
SOME OF THE FEES STRUCTURE FOR THE SERVICES
Consultations- Shs50,000
DNA paternity test -Shs500,000
Genetic counseling – Shs 150,000
Special x-ray examinations – Shs 100,000
Special ultra sound- Shs 100,000
CT-scan – Shs 90,000
Plain x-ray- Shs30,000
Cleaning and dressing – Shs 20,000
Cancer markers- Shs 40,000
Antenatal package- Shs 800,000
Immunization -Shs70,000 per visit
Sperm Injection – 14,000,000
IVF – 13,000,000
Caesarian – 2,000,000
Epidural and Spinal Analgesia – 1,6000,000
Post mortem – 150,000
