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UN: some Haitian hospitals are charging patients
Staff and agenciesBy FRANK BAJAK, Associated Press Writer Frank Bajak, Associated Press Writer – Mon Feb 8, 10:13 pm ET
When the catastrophic earthquake struck Jan. 12, authorities immediately decided to make all medical care free. More than 200 international medical relief groups have sent teams to help, and millions of dollars of donated medicine has been flown in.
The officials said they could not immediately provide the names of the hospitals but said they were in several parts of the country, including Port-au-Prince.
Hospitals don‘t need to charge patients to pay their staff, because Haitian Health Ministry employees are getting paid with donated money, Rerat added.
But they added the U.N. would consider continuing to supply non-governmental groups working at private hospitals hit with embargoes if the NGO can make a convincing case that none of the people it is treating are being charged.
"Tomorrow, we will clarify that the government never gave anyone permission to charge for medicine and services," he said.
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