The Ministry of Health and Social Services has reviewed and approved new tariffs, with the changes intended to generate additional revenue that can be reinvested into patient care.

Dr Esperance Luvindao said government health facilities are currently operating under outdated tariffs, with patients receiving high-quality services at relatively low rates.

Dr Luvindao was responding to a question from PDM leader McHenry Venaani about when the initiative for government officials and MPs to use public healthcare facilities would come into effect, following its announcement that it would start on 1 April this year.

“I want to know from the minister responsible for health whether she has achieved that and what is the current status, how have we saved money, where are we lacking in order to achieve that and what needs to be done for you to achieve that noble goal.”

Dr Luvindao said the majority of the public have opted to use public health facilities because they offer more affordable services while maintaining a high standard of care.

The new tariffs, she noted were expected to be gazetted through the Ministry of Justice and Labour Relations last month, but they have been informed that they are expected to be gazetted by the middle of September.

“We’ve seen lots of admissions. We did the assessment last month, and the finance team are finalising the revenue figures to present to me. However, one of the limitations, which was part of your question in terms of how we can do better, was that because of those old tariffs, you have high-quality service, but you are still charging the previous tariffs. As an example, you get admitted to what looks like a five-star facility, and the goal was for us to generate money so that we can reinvest in our care. But you’re being charged, for example, 500, 200, 800 dollars. And so what we then did was review those tariffs. They have been approved.”