Cross River: PHCs To Be Sanctioned For Charging Over N3,000 For Delivery

Cross River Government has said that Primary Healthcare (PHCs) facilities will face sanctions for charging more than N3,000 for delivery.

The Director-General of the Cross River Primary Healthcare Development Agency (CRSPHCDA), Dr Janet Ekpenyong made this known during an integrated meeting with PHC Ward Focal Persons and the State Basic Healthcare Provision Scheme in Calabar.

According to Ekpenyong, 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.

“We are looking at ways to encourage pregnant women to patronise health facilities instead of Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs).

“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 said that out of the 196 PHCs in the state, more than 130 have been accredited for the Cross River Basic Healthcare Insurance scheme, adding that “as the scheme grows, other PHCs will be accredited too.”

She warned officials of the PHCs to be aware that they would either encourage or discourage clients from coming back to their facilities by their attitude.