A section of patients at the Kenyatta University Hospital on Friday, July 24, lamented that the government was appaling them with huge bills after recovery.
In one of the cases, a patient whose identity could not be revealed due to the sensitivity of the matter, indicated that the hospital wanted her to pay a bill of Ksh 74,000 for the treatment that she had received during her two-week-stay at the facility.
"I have been at the facility since July 1, 2018 and my bill came to a total of ksh 74,000 which I have never seen with my eyes. I am not working and I have a very sick person at home," the woman stated.
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Further, she told Health CS Mutahi Kagwe that she urgently needed his intervention as her predicament had also affected a number of other patients at the facility.
Yet again, another patient at the facility reiterated that they were told they would not pay for treatment but were shocked to see their medical bills.
"Initially, they told us it was free but all of a sudden, they have started asking us to pay for treatment," another indicated.
"We have not been working. How do they expect us to pay the bill and we have been here the whole time," another patient complained.
Responding to the matter during the daily covid-19 briefing on Friday, July 24 , Health CAS Mercy Mwangangi indicated that the ministry had been informed of the matter and maintained that treatment in public hospitals was free.
"Covid-19 treatment in public facilities is being handled by those public facilities and there are no costs attributable to that and this is a case that we have actually managed and we are going to follow through. There are no costs and the Cabinet Secretary has also announced this several times," she stated.
She added that one of the reasons why the government encouraged free Covid-19 services is to ensure that patients seeking treatment were not stigmatized.
The Ministry has continuously warned that stigma only slows efforts in the fight against the virus.
