Health sector leaders and former policymakers have rejected ideas for introducing hospital user fees in Fiji, saying many families are already struggling with the rising cost of living and would face further hardship if required to pay for healthcare services.
When questioned whether people should start paying for health services in hospitals as one of the ways for funding healthcare especially those living in urban settings, President of the Fiji College of General Practitioners, Dr Dhirend Lal, says charging people for hospital services is not recommended at a time when the country is already facing a hardships.
Lal says instead the government should consider introducing a five percent tax on products such as junk food, kava, sugar drinks and alcohol to generate additional revenue for the health sector.
Following Lal's suggetions former Minister for Health and Medical Services Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete also believes that introducing healthcare charges could place significant pressure on vulnerable families.
Dr Waqainabete says there are people living in poverty along the Suva-Nausori corridor, and requiring them to pay for healthcare could push some households further into crisis.
He says targeted taxation on certain products could be a better alternative for raising funds for the healthcare system.
Meanwhile, Fiji Medical Association President Dr Ronal Kumar says healthcare is not cheap, therefore rather than introducing charges for patients, greater emphasis should be placed on encouraging people to take responsibility for their health and prevent illnesses.
Former Attorney-General and Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says a system requiring some people to contribute towards their healthcare costs could be considered in the future.
However, he says it should not be introduced immediately or applied to all Fijians, given the current economic challenges and financial pressures facing households.
Sayed-Khaiyum says higher-income earners could potentially be required to pay for their own treatment, or have the costs covered by their private health insurance, instead of relying entirely on Government funding.
