Hospital guards charge dental ‘consultation fee’
POLICY:
Though patients are only expected to pay about E5 for services, it was gathered that some patients are charged as much as E60 by some security guards at the gate, which is against health centre’s policy.
BUHLENI – or are some of the words you need to understand if you need dental healthcare at Mkhuzweni Health Centre.
The health centre, which functions as a mini hospital, is situated about three kilometres from Buhleni town, serving the surrounding communities in northern Hhohho. It also provides dental services to the public.
Mkhuzweni Health Centre is one of the government facilities that provides both free and paid for services. Patients who visit the hospital are charged a fee of about E5 to be seen by a doctor. This is a community levy and only a tiny fraction compared to what is charged in private facilities.
Under normal circumstances, the world over, dentists don’t only treat ailments related to teeth but may also be required to assist in cases of accidents, where injuries are in the bones of the facial area. They can give reconstructive and sometimes rehabilitative procedures, to ensure one gets the best long-term results.
Though patients are only expected to pay about E5 for services, this publication gathered that some patients are charged as much as E60 by some security guards at the gate. This is said to be against the health centre’s policy.
Influx
It was gathered that since there is only one dentist available at the health centre, only about 15 patients are seen per day. Due to the influx of people, service is only provided on a first-come-firstserved basis. For this reason, security guards are expected to give numbered tickets as the patients arrive. The tickets are numbered up to 15 and they are free.
According to some of the patients, whenever they arrived at the hospital gate, they were told that all the tickets had been used up and that could not see dentist.
One of the patients *Sonfto, is said to have gone to the hospital without a ticket after being told by the security guards that there were none available. When she entered the Outpaitient Department (OPD) to be assisted by the available dentist, she is said to have been turned back because she did not have a numbered ticket, which she was supposed to obtain for free.
The dentist is said to have not assisted Sonfto, who was asked to leave the consultation room. Sonfto then is said to have decided to go back home but before she did, she is said to have approached the Senior Medical they the
One of the patients was refunded an amount of E20.
Officer (SMO), Dr Nsizwa Mahlalela. Sontfo asked the doctor if he could assist her with a sick note that she could take to her employer to show that she had been to the hospital.
Mahlalela is said to have told Sonfto that he would not give her a sick note but that the person who was expected to give it to her was the one who had treated her. Sonfto is said to have been referred to SMO by the dentist, who had turned her back and she was eventually assisted.
After the encounter with Sonfto, Mahlalela is said to have enquired why she was not provided with a number like others. Mahlalela then carried out an enquiry to establish why Sonfto had not
been assisted.
Shocked
Also, just before she had seen Mahlalela, Sonfto is said to have been shocked that despite being told that the numbered tickets had been used up, she saw some patients arriving with the numbers yet they arrived later than her. Sontfo is said to have overheard some of the patients saying they were issued tickets by security guards at the gate.
“Kuyakhulunyiswana,” one of the patients is said to have told Sontfo, meaning that she had to talk with the security officers.
When Sonfto enquired what the other patient meant by kuyakhulunyiswana, she was told that she had to offer the security guard some cash. Another patient also said also meaning that one had to pay so that the guards could issue the tickets.
Sonfto is said to have discovered that some of the patients were paying about E20 or E60, depending on their circumstances. However, Sonfto is said to have been uncomfortable with going to the security guards to pay and ask for a ticket because as a Christian, she considered this a form of bribery.
Dr Mahlalela, who is the SMO at the health centre, when called, confirmed the situation. He said he had referred the matter to the Customer Care Office (CCO). He said the matter was still under investigation but he was aware of concerns raised by clients.
The doctor also confirmed that he had seen one of the patients, who was charged E20 and that three cases were being investigated by the CCO.
Furthermore, Mahlalela referred questions to the health centre’s administrator. When the administrator was called, there was a network disconnection a few seconds after he had answered. When he was called again, he said he was not able to hear properly because he was driving. “I will call you later,” he said. He had not returned the call by the time of compiling this report.
The manager at the security company was called but she said she was not aware of the matter. She said she would call the person in charge of the security guards at the said health centre.
*Not real name.
It was gathered that there is only one dentist available at the health centre.