The introduction of new service rates by the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) without any prior notice to the public has angered most patients who visit the facility for treatment.
The service rates came into effect on Monday, September 17, following a decision by the hospital's management to increase its service charges.
Checks at the hospital yesterday revealed that rates for general and special services had been increased.
For instance, new patients have to pay GH¢16 for a folder, up from GH¢9, while laboratory services have also witnessed an increase of between 40 and 100 per cent.
At the hospital's central laboratory, patients undergoing a full blood count (FBC) service now have to pay GH¢14, as against the previous service charge of GH¢10.
Other tests, such as fasting blood sugar (FBS), have increased from GH¢5 to GH¢10.
In spite of the fact that the increases have been effective since Monday, there are no notices to inform patients of the changes; patients only get to know of them when they go the various pay points to make payment.
Some patients who spoke to the Daily Graphic could not understand why the Korle-Bu management failed to properly notify the public on the changes.
"I came here with a planned budget in hand, only to be confronted with increases in the cost of all the services rendered to me," Ms Dansowaa Owusu lamented.
An official of the hospital who spoke to the Daily Graphic on condition of anonymity said the new charges were part of fees and charges approved by Parliament in July this year for public medical facilities.
According to her, the management of the hospital sought parliamentary approval, as no such increment had taken place since 2006.
"Korle-Bu's request was part of a large proposal submitted to Parliament by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning for the review of service charges by some 29 ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs),” she said
By Della Russel Ocloo/Daily Graphic/Ghana
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