L$7K Ambulance Charge Troubles Bong Health Team

By Samuel Flomo, Jr.

Bong County Health Team Administrator, Sam Siakor, has rejected allegations that pregnant women accessing ambulance services at Zowinta Clinic in Electoral District #1 are being charged L$7,000. They insisted that the officially approved transportation fee is L$2,000.

In an interview with in profile Daily newspaper Bong county correspondent, Siakor said, reports of pregnant women being charged L$7,000 were inconsistent with the approved arrangement established by the Ministry of Health.

He explained how the L$2,000 fee applies specifically to pregnant women transported from maternal waiting homes to health facilities for delivery, particularly those who cannot afford transportation when complications arise.

Siakor: “The payment forms part of the Community Drug Revolving Fund initiative government introduced through the Ministry of Health.

Siakor’s clarification has left questions unanswered about the implementation of the ambulance arrangement, particularly whether pregnant women transported from communities outside maternal waiting homes are required to pay the same amount, or face additional charges.

He stressed how the approved fee should not be confused with other ambulance operations.

Siakor said, the L$2,000 arrangement specifically covers pregnant women coming from designated maternal waiting homes.

“Whenever the ambulance is to pick up a pregnant woman from our maternal waiting home, I want you to underline that: “a pregnant woman from our maternal waiting home.” He further explained how payments are made to the Officer-in-Charge of the health facility, the maternal waiting home, or the ambulance service providers, with official receipts issued to the women.

The administrator challenged anyone with evidence of pregnant women being charged above the approved amount to report the matter to the County Health Team for investigation.

The clarification comes amid public concerns over report of excessive ambulance charges at Zowinta Clinic, and the affordability of maternal healthcare services in the county.