The Cross River State government has vowed to sanction Primary Healthcare (PHCs) facilities that charge more than N3,000 for delivery.

Janet Ekpenyong, the director-general of the Cross River Primary Healthcare Development Agency (CRSPHCDA), said this during an integrated meeting with PHC Ward Focal Persons and the State Basic Healthcare Provision Scheme in Calabar.

Ms Ekpenyong said the agency had received complaints that some PHCs charge as much as N10,000.

“The PHCs are supposed to charge just N3,000 for delivery to purchase consumables, and this is only when they don’t come with their own consumables as stated on the list initially given to them,” she said.

Ms Ekpentong added, “While we totally condemn these actions, we have set up a team headed by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health to ensure that culpable PHCs and personnel are adequately penalised.”

She explained that this was to encourage women to visit health facilities instead of Traditional Birth Attendants (TBA).

She said that out of the 196 PHCs in the state, more than 130 had been accredited for the Cross River Basic Healthcare Insurance scheme,

adding that “as the scheme grows, other PHCs will be accredited too.”

The director-general warned officials of the PHCs to be aware that they would either encourage or discourage clients from returning to their facilities by their attitude.

On his part, Godwin Iyala, the director-general, Cross River Basic Healthcare Provision Scheme, said the scheme is essential to the health of pregnant women and during childbirth.

Mr Iyala said, “the PHCs were picked in a bid to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) because they are the closest to the people.”

According to him, 50 laptops are being distributed to the PHCs accredited for the Basic Healthcare Provision Scheme.

“Every month, the PHCs will be paid based on the number of enrollees they have, after proper monitoring and evaluation by the third party

administrators that will go round the facilities from time to time,” he explained.

David Ushie, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, appealed to officials to treat customers with respect, as patient satisfaction is key to the scheme’s success.

(NAN)