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] ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Help save the life of a child. Support St. Jude Children's Research Hospital's 'Thanks & Giving.' http://us.click.yahoo.com/mGEjbB/5WnJAA/E2hLAA/BRUplB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> *************************************************************************** Berdikusi dg Santun & Elegan, dg Semangat Persahabatan. Menuju Indonesia yg Lebih Baik, in Commonality & Shared Destiny. www.ppi-india.org *************************************************************************** __________________________________________________________________________ Mohon Perhatian: 1. Harap tdk. memposting/reply yg menyinggung SARA (kecuali sbg otokritik) 2. Pesan yg akan direply harap dihapus, kecuali yg akan dikomentari. 3. Lihat arsip sebelumnya, www.ppi-india.da.ru; 4. Satu email perhari: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 5. No-email/web only: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 6. kembali menerima email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ppiindia/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/