Petrina Francis, Staff Reporter

At least two hospital administrators say they have made preparations for the implementation of the abolition of health fees, but warned that patients may have to wait longer because of the anticipated large number of patients who will be utilising health facilities.

The Jamaica Labour Party, in its election campaign last year, promised to abolish the fees if it were to win the September 3 general election. The abolition of fees is to take effect on April 1.

"We are ready as can be," Dr Winston Dawes, senior medical officer at the May Pen Hospital, told The Gleaner yesterday.

Dawes said his administration has been recruiting additional medical doctors to conduct sessions.

Exercise patience

"We have to hope that people do not come in at once," said the senior medical officer.

He added: "If they do come (in droves), there won't be a massive increase in resources, so if they have to wait a little longer, we are asking them to exercise some patience."

Dawes said that while Lionel Town and Chapelton hospitals do not offer consultant services, he will be going to these two facilities to conduct rounds with the junior doctors. This, he said, would ease the pressure off the May Pen Hospital, as doctors would not have to refer every case there.

David Dobson, chief executive officer of Spanish Town Hospital, said his administration has conducted training and redeployed staff to areas that large numbers of patients are expected. He noted that he was uncertain about the expected increase that the abolition of the fees would bring.

In a paid advertisement in The Sunday Gleaner, the Ministry of Health and Environment said user fees would be removed at all public health facilities, except the University Hospital of the West Indies.

"We are irrevocably committed to the view that it is the duty of Government to provide unrestricted access to basic health services, including primary health care, emergency outpatient treatment, diagnostic procedures, surgical opera-tions, hospitalisation, dialysis, radio-logical services and inpatient medical supplies," the health ministry said.

User charges will be removed from:

Registration

Doctor's examination

Hospital admission

Surgeries including day surgeries

Medication

Diagnostic services, for example,

X-rays and ECG, among others.

petrina.francis@gleanerjm.com