The Parliamentary Committee on Health has raised concern over “extra” charges that Lira Regional Referral Hospital (LRRH) imposes on the patients seeking imaging services at the facility.
The government facility offers specialized services like dialysis, CT scan, and X- ray at a fee.
For example, every kidney patient on dialysis is charged 80,000 shillings per session while a CT scan costs 150,000, 200,000 for ultrasound, and an X-ray costs 10,000 shillings.
During an oversight assessment on the level of health service delivery in the Lango Sub-region, the committee members were shocked by the high fees.
Samuel Opio Acuti, the Deputy Chairperson of the Committee who is also the Kole North County MP noted that the Health Ministry had approved imagining charges to be between 100,000 to 150,000 shillings.
He then tasked the hospital administration to avail to them the letter from the Ministry of Health (MoH) that approved the figures they are charging for those particular services.
Opio wondered why despite having available operational facilities like CT scan and ultra sound is now functional.
In his response, Dr. Nathan Onyachi, the Hospital’s Director explained that the Ministry of Health is aware of this arrangement and that it is to help in running the hospital.
He adds that the money is spent on buying ingredients used for CT scans or films for X-ray machines.
Specific categories of people such as pregnant mothers with renal failure as a result of preeclampsia and children with kidney failure as a result of malaria are given dialysis for free.
Also, accident victims with no attendants but require CT scan are serviced free of charge.
“There is a human element in these services. It’s not that we are ruthless but because the money is useful to sustain the service,” said Dr. Onyaci.
He further disclosed that the hospital has opened a private ward where patients who can afford are offered services like admissions, consultations, pharmacy, and laboratory tests at a subsidized cost.
Nonetheless, Jane Acola whose husband receives dialysis service twice a week from the hospital is proud of the service saying it is cheaper compared to traveling to Mulago Hospital in Kampala for the same service.
Lira Regional Referral Hospital is situated in the heart of Lira City serving a population of 2.8 million people speared across 10 districts in Lango and other neighboring areas.
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