http://www.arabnews.com/?page=13§ion=0&article=62683&d=1&m=5&y=2005&pix=kingdom.jpg&category=Local%20Press
Sunday, 24, April, 2005 (15, Rabi` al-Awwal, 1426)
Privatizing Public Health Services
Abdo Khal . Okaz
Recently published reports show that government hospitals made profits of
more than SR100 million last year. The money entered government coffers thanks
to a new policy that allows public health institutions to provide medical
services to those willing to pay. Once the policy was adopted, hospitals set up
special business centers on their premises to receive patients willing to pay
for medical services which are provided in the evening after official working
hours.
Ministry of Health officials say the practice will be expanded to allow
other government hospitals to follow suit and sell medical services to those
who are willing to pay. The focus will be on remote areas where no private
health services are available.
To tell the truth, I must admit I was terrified when I read the news. I
was particularly concerned about the last part of the story which speaks of the
introduction of a pay-and-get-treated service in rural areas.
Instead of working to upgrade and improve the performance of public
hospitals in remote areas so they can provide a decent service to the public,
the ministry is seeking to turn public hospitals into private investment
centers on the grounds that those areas lack private health institutions.
The ministry argues that by introducing this service, it will be able to
reduce the movement of doctors who are increasingly leaving its hospitals to
join private sector health institutions.
The amounts generated through this kind of business vary from one public
hospital to another. Last year's figures show that while some made as much as
SR7 million, others made only SR200,000. It all depends on the reputation of
the hospital and its proximity to population centers. These amounts, according
to ministry officials, are considered modest compared to the ministry's annual
budget.
Does this mean the ministry has targeted a figure far larger than its
budget which this year consumed up to 37 percent of the overall government
budget?
This is indeed a confusing matter. Are we going to see our ministry turn
into a money-generating institution whose main concern is draining the pockets
of the very people it is supposed to serve? I am beginning to have second
thoughts about privatization. If privatization means allowing this monster to
further crush our bones, then I am certainly against it.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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