Petrina Francis, Staff Reporter

Some parents at the Bustamante Hospital for Children, yesterday welcomed the Government's decision to abolish health fees for children under 18 years, but some complained that the new system was impacting on the waiting period.

Effective yesterday, children under the age of 18, are able to access free registration, surgery, diagnostic services (laboratory and X-ray), medication and hospital stay in all public facilities, except the University Hospital of the West Indies. This new fee regime was announced by Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller earlier this month.

"I don't think it is necessary because it (registration fee, among other things) is already cheap," said a mother of a four-year-old girl who was visibly upset about the long waiting period.

"I have been here since 6:00 a.m. (waiting for four hours) and all now mi caan get through. We are here frustrated with this whole heap a crowd. This is politrix," the frustrated mother said.

"Why all of a sudden it is free? The other day I was short $250 and the lady said she was not going to register me, and my sister had to leave from church in Portmore and come give me the money," she told The Gleaner.

"I am here for a review, and I had to call somebody and send them to my workplace. It (ticks) me off having to be here for so long because I don't believe in freenesss. This is not impressing me for sure," said Marcia Barnaby, mother of an eight-year-old child.

Similar sentiments

Donna Hunter, mother of a five-year-old child, who had an 8:00 a.m. appointment but was yet to be seen up to 10:30 a.m expressed similar sentiments.

"I am not in the freeness thing because I can't be bothered. Look how long I have been here - suppose my child was dying. I am a hardworking Jamaican, so I am really not in the freeness because this is what is causing all of the delay," said Ms. Hunter.

Notwithstanding the parents' complaints, Beverly Needham, chief executive officer of the hospital, said fewer persons than she had anticipated turned up to make use of the free health care.

"They are not telling the truth. A wholelot of them are glad for it because a lot of us cannot afford it," said Raquel Ellis, a mother who lives on Arnold Road, Kingston.

"It is a good thing. People have to wait long for everything. At least I can now use the registration fee to buy lunch because a lot of time I come up here and have to be on a 'diet' because I can't afford to eat," she said.

petrina.francis@gleanerjm.com