Assembly hikes hospital charges

Mampong (Ashanti Region) 3rd May ?99 ?

The Sekyere West District Assembly has accepted proposals by the Asante Mampong District Hospital Management Committee to charge extra hospital fees of 500 cedis for out-patients and 1,000 cedis for in-patients.

The proposal seeks to generate more revenue to enable the hospital to settle its outstanding electricity bill of 28 million cedis.

Dr Francis Abebrese, District Medical Superintendent, commended the assembly for its action, saying it would assist the hospital to settle its average monthly bill of five million cedis as against the government approved monthly subvention of 1.7 million cedis adding that it was time the hospital upgraded to a regional status.

Mr Samuel Akwasi Acheampong, District Chief Executive, said the assembly had formed a revenue task force to improve on the district's revenue collection.

He said 20 million cedis had been set aside as poverty alleviation package for 170 individuals and appealed to traditional rulers to release land for the successful implementation of the youth in agriculture programme in the district.