In a recent tweet, Cameroon’s Minister of public health, Dr Manaouda Malachie has said Covid-19 tests are free
The minister regrets that some nurses and health officials continously charge for screening
And since the outbreak of Coronavirus in Cameroon, patients have been victimised to paying huge amounts of money for a test
Many patients complained they payed hundreds of thousands to get tested
“It happens that some of our staff or hospitals still charge for screening tests, especially rapid tests which were made available for them.
In addition to your expected denunciations, I have just set up a mixed brigade (DGSN-MINSANTE) to track down all the people and structures that will continue to surf on the plight of Cameroonians to make money. I appeal to everyone’s vigilance” the minister wrote
But it’s a tussle
Other health personnel in the private sector have said the facilities made available by the ministry of health is not at their disposal
They have to spend money in getting them, so they charge the patients as well
The minister’s tweet did not address this part of the problem. It is expected that while the government puts in place measures to restrict payment for screening, it should shoulder the bills incurred by the private health sector which depends largely on its patients for survival
Since 2017, we have staked our lives to provide tailor-made news reports to our readers from war zones and hot political rivalries in Cameroon - And we do so for FREE.
As a small online media now reaching over 100,000 monthly readers on all our platforms, we have to rely on hiring a small team to help keep you informed
The best way to support our online reporting is by considering a measly sum for our team on the ground as little as $1. Now you can make a donation to us below, it only takes one click...
[sdonations]1[/sdonations]
