Editor,Allow me to respond to a story published in The New Times on March, 12, titled “Public hospitals to change billing system”.It is saddening to hear that some people, even when they are required to pay as little as 10 per cent of the total amount, they decide to disappear before clearing their bills.However, it would make more sense if the payment process is made friendlier. At times, it takes a sick person many hours to clear payments at Kigali University Teaching Hospital (CHUK), with so many procedures and uncaring accountants! We also have the collapsing machines every second! Yet our country should be ahead in IT! This must be addressed.Jean Pierre Songoro KabezaEditor,The biggest problem about the billing system in hospitals comes from the Mutuelle de Sante not footing their own bills. This is unacceptable in a country known for enforcing the rule of law and checking corruption in public institutions.Reforms are needed of course, and they should at the best introduce integrated systems to track-down any payment and contributor. Will Vienna, AustriaEditor,Thank you for bringing this long-standing source of problems to the wider audience. The nonpayment of the 10 per cent by those who have no means is a minor problem compared to the huge debts that the Mutuelle de Sante department owes hospitals. By the end of 2011, over Rwf200 million was owed by Mutuelle de Sante to our hospital alone. One can imagine what challenges that pose to hospital administrations.Sheila EtheringtonKibogora Hospital Editor,My suggestion is to involve local authorities in sensitising the population on this issue. It is irresponsible to escape a hospital without paying as if it was your last time to need their care.Vianney Nshimiyimana Haiti
