Bills Cleared for All Public Hospital Patients with Arrears

Kevin Bernard

So, how much revenue does the Government of Belize stand to lose with the removal of public hospital fees? Minister Bernard explained that the hospitals combined, comes up to about a million dollars annually. But, he says only forty percent of that is ever collected. And for those patients who may have outstanding payments, you can consider your bills cleared.

Kevin Bernard, Minister of Health and Wellness

“Let me tell you that when we did the studies we were billing about a million dollars a year but collecting only about forty to forty-five percent. Many of the rest of the fees ended up as bad debts. It is a similar situation at KHMH but KHMH has its own management structure and purposes and I know they are reviewing their whole financial issues, but sometimes only to twenty to twenty five percent of what is payable to KHMH is received in the coffers. So, it is a huge step towards making sure we are able to address it. For me it is not about the cost we have lost or the revenue. It is about the benefits gained in making sure people have access to quality health care and the services they so deserve to have at every facility we are able to provide.”

Duane Moody

“What happens with those who have arrears?”

Kevin Bernard

“Once it is clinical fees they are no longer being collected. So anybody who may have had any bills outstanding to the hospitals whether for maternity, X-ray or child birth those are no longer existent as of the day we passed this regulation.”