Patient Fees Drastically Reduced

The Western Cape Department of Health is pleased to announce a reduction in certain hospital fees has been implemented as from 1 October 2005.

The revised hospital fees translates into an almost R3 million reduction in income to the Department of Health for the remainder of this financial year.

These reductions are implemented to lessen the financial burden on the individual as far as possible. The fee schedule includes a free category of patients referred to as the H0 category, which caters for the formally unemployed and all social grantees. H1 category patients are those who pay a comprehensive fee and they will now for example pay for a 30-day admission at a central hospital, a reduced fee of R65 where in the past they paid R70. The costs for an outpatient visit in this category the fees have also been reduced from R70 to R35. These tariffs are inclusive of the professional and facility fee. The H2 category patients are patients who are employed and pay fees, which are subsidised up to 50% of the maximum tariffs. For instance a consultation fee to a central hospital for this category patient has been reduced from R221 to R55. The H3 category patients are those with medical aids who exceed the means test and the maximum tariffs are payable but in some cases these have been reduced by 21%.

Free services are rendered to patients which includes the statutory free services, for example to pregnant mothers, children under 6, family planning, immunizations, infectious/ modifiable diseases (TB etc.), medico-legal services, certified psychiatric patients, committed children and all services rendered at primary health care level. In certain instances, externally funded, i.e. those on medical aids and those who exceed the means test do not qualify for free services.

'We are cognisant of the fact that patients have varying abilities to pay for services provided. Therefore the debt relief mechanisms of the Department has been reviewed so as to assist with those individuals who experience financial hardship and genuinely are not in a position to contribute to hospital fees', says Minister Uys. Thus patients are requested to visit the administrative section of the hospital in the event of enquiries or assistance being sought with respect to the payment of fees.

All hospital facilities have been notified accordingly in terms of the reduced fees and the debt relief mechanisms to implement the reduced fees as of immediate effect.

The fee schedule, known as Uniform Patient Fees Schedule (UPFS), inherently aims at cost recovery, which takes into account the value of the professional component of the provided health service and the cost of providing an environment within which a health service can be rendered. The costs differ across the level of care with the central hospitals being the most expensive.

Issued by:
Communications Directorate
Office of the Superintendent-General of Health
Western Cape
Provincial Department of Health

Contact:
Faiza Steyn
Director: Communications
Tel: 021 483 3235
Fax: 021 483 6169
E-mail: fsteyn@pgwc.gov.za