By jimmy Muhumuza
Parliament
A section of NRM members of parliament petition the prime minister over the high cost of accessing health services in private services during the second wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
The members of parliament say that even though the private sector plays an important role in supplementing government efforts in health service provision, the costs of services are highly constraining access by those who cannot afford it.
The MPs claim that reports indicate that the daily rate for patients that are critically ill and requiring intensive care unit admission ranges between 2-5 million shillings which are unaffordable to most Ugandans.
The Kazo county mp Dan Kimosho now wants the government to immediately interrogate the overcharging of COVID-19 patients and regulate these prices in the private sector and offer standard reference prices for the treatment of COVID19 PATIENTS.
Kimosho has also asked the government to impose a zero tax on all medical equipment used in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 and has also asked professional bodies that govern hospitals and doctors to come to Ugandans, who need these services.
The Sheema municipality mp Dickson Kateshumbwa says that even though this is a liberalized economy what is taking place in the country is the exploitation of Ugandans saying that in Kenya a COVID-19 patient pays an average of 1.7 million shillings while in Uganda they pay 4 million shillings yet the health sectors with the highest number of incentives.
He says the government should not just look on when Ugandans are being exploited like it was recently witnessed when students were returning home.
The Kitgum woman mp Lilian Aber says that there is a need to regulate the exorbitant fees charged in private hospitals saying that it has now become an issue of human rights because no one should die because they do not have money.
