King Faisal Hospital (KFH), Rwanda 's speciality referral hospital is set to increase charges on some medical services in a bid to harmonise rates with regional hospitals like Nairobi hospital in Kenya and Muhimbiri hospital in Tanzania ..

This was revealed a fortnight ago by the former Executive Chairman of KFH, Dr. Innocent Nyaruhirira at a press conference that was held at the hospital premises in Kacyiru.

“In Rwanda we still charge $20 as consultation fee while other countries in the region charge between $60 and $80. Our services are up to standard and there is need to revise such issues.”

“Although charges will increase, it is important to know that even the poor will still be able to access the services since we will do this in liaison with the national referral system and medical insurance. Charges on some services will increase by 20 percent in the next few months,” the health expert explained.

Meanwhile, after operating with unreliable software for about 10 years, the hospital has now installed state-of-the-art telemedicine software worth Rwf789.2 million (US $1.4 million) that enables patients to register and consult health workers in the shortest time possible.

“In a bid to offer good services, we recently installed Jeeva software. It is not only accurate but it also enables patients to acquire services in the shortest time possible,” Nyaruhirira explained.

Tanzania 's Muhimbiri hospital, a leading referral hospital in the region, is one of those that have successfully benefited from the Jeeva software.

With regard to skills of the hospital employees, Collins also noted that a lecture-based training has been done as well as on job training for most of the staff.

User manuals are also set to be distributed within the hospital premises.

She also dispelled rumours that through the new system, patients' data could be lost if viruses attacked the system.

“We have an anti-virus server that cleans the system often and in case of any breakdown, our standby technical team can sort this issue immediately. With two servers both on site and offsite (at RITA) our back up data is safe,” she assured.

The officials expressed optimism that the hospital's revenues will increase with the new system as the old one had always been queried by the auditor general.

It ensures automated procurement, converts patient records to electronic records, provides provisional bill to in patients–daily and allows doctors to electronically order imaging among others.
 The Hospital draws a large number of its patients from D.R. Congo's politicians who had close ties with Rwanda during the Rally for Congolese Democracy and also from business people residing in the North and Eastern part of the DRC.

HAPAMEDIA/NEW TIMES