The Trade Practice and Consumer Protection Authority of Ethiopia disclosed that it had set up ways to track private health centers service delivery fee, Walta Information Center reported.

Mr. Endalkachew Tsegaye, Director of the Public Relations Coordination Directorate with the Authority, informed Medical Magazine that a survey study on private health sectors had been conducted. The survey study was undertaken due to dissatisfactions reported by the public to the Trade Practice and consumer Protection Authority.

He further explained that besides the occasional price increment, the registration, laboratory and bed fees were among some of the unfair charges in the health centers. These price escalations are due to reasons such as unfair house rent payments, high priced medicines and imported medical equipments 

What is more, Mr. Endalkachew stressed on the fact that the public repeatedly complains on being mistreated by health officers and further added sanitary problems, lack of quality and quantity of laboratory materials and ineffective service delivery as some of the other major problems faced.

As a result, the authority called upon these private health centers to serve ethically and indicated that it has also planned to set awareness creation programs in the near future.

Follow ups and assessments will be strengthened until fair health service is achieved in the country.

Source: Walta Information Center