No Increase In Health Care Charges In FCT – Bala

By Patrick Osadebamwen
Plans by the Health and Human Services Secretariat, (HHSS) of the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT) to increase the cost of health service delivery in the Territory have been dismissed by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration.
Minister of the FCT, Sen. Bala Mohammed turned down the proposals which he noted would hurt the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.
Bala who rejected the unpopular proposals during the weekly FCT Executive Meeting at the Banquet Hall, FCT Minister’s Official Residence, Gwarinpa I District, said new minimal charges would only be allowed in the case of new services introduced in the Hospitals such as CT Scan.
He explained that in order to enhance the World Class Health Care Services being rendered to the residents of the Federal Capital Territory, the FCT Executive Council has approved minimal charges on the new services in the hospitals.
Bala insisted that the status quo on Free Antenatal Care Services in the FCT Hospitals, should remain expressing preference for expanded free antenatal package to all the nooks and crannies of the Federal Capital Territory.
He stressed that the people-oriented service has been conceived to enhance Health Care Delivery in the Federal Capital Territory especially to the indigent people in our society.
According to him, some of the new services include Intensive Care Unit session and Hemodialysis without vascular access-N19,000 per session.
His words: “Other new Laboratory Services including Hbe Surface Antigen Test and H-Pylori Test will go for N2,600 an N2,000 respectively”. (ICU) N15,000 per day; Hemodialysis with vascular access-N14,000 per
The Minister disclosed that for the new Radiology services like Trans Vaginal Scan (TVS)-N2,500; CT Intravenous Urography (IVU)- N60,000; CT Angiography- N70,000; Trans Rectal Scam- N2,000; CT Scam (Abdomen) – N40,000; CT Scan (Brain) N30,000; Echocardiography-N10,000.
Senator Mohammed insisted that the FCT Administration as a government has a responsibility to the people dwelling in the Federal Capital Territory and would continue to do that for their utmost benefit.
The EXCO warned that all other charges for services currently being provided by FCT Hospitals must not be increased in whatever way either directly or indirectly, as this Administration is more than ever prepared to serve the people.
The FCT EXCO further directed that if there were shortcomings in funding the laudable programme, efforts would be made to augment through SURE-P and other sources for the needed funds.
Meanwhile, the EXCO has set up two different Committees headed by the FCT Chief of Staff and the General Counsel/Secretary of Legal Services Secretariat, Alhaji Mohammed Yau Gital and Barrister Ima Okpongete respectively.
The two Committees are expected to look into the Memos on the Autonomy for the Abuja Central Medical Stores as well as the Establishment\Collection of Entertainment and Event Centre Fees in the FCT.