No patient turned away: Eastern Cape health department's commitment to free healthcare
The Eastern Cape Department of Health has assured the public that no one will be turned away from a health care facility if that person has not paid the required amount.
The department stated that having access to healthcare is a fundamental right of everyone, and this is further emphasised in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, which guarantees everyone the right to access healthcare services, including reproductive healthcare, and that no one may be refused emergency medical treatment.
In a statement, the spokesperson for the MEC, Camagwini Mavovana, said that the Universal Patient Fee Schedule (UPFS) was implemented in South Africa in November 2000.
“It standardises billing services in the public health sector and categorises patients based on income and funding status to guide fees charged in the public hospitals and health care facilities,” said Mavovana.
All hospitals in the country comply with the UPFS. According to the departmental policy, UPFS patients are categorised as follows:
- H0 – No income, Social Pensioners ( services are free except when specified)
- H1 – For an individual whose income is less than R70 000 per annum and for household income less than R100 000.
- H2 – Paying patients, with fees structured as: R55 during office hours and R70 after hours.
- H3 – Patients with medical aids, with fees assessed based on services received.
Any person, even if one does not have any money, can open a file and is mandatory to do so and that person will receive medical care.
“A patient must bring cash or card to open a file and patients without money will still receive care. Opening a file refers to the patient registration process,” said Mavovana.
In instances where a person who is supposed to pay but cannot pay at that particular moment a debt is recorded against the patient.
“our people are not disadvantaged and denied health care because of their economic and social status,” said Mavovana.
The department has further advised the public to educate themselves about the Policy on Universal Patient Fees Structure.
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