The Minister of Public Health, Dr Malachie Manaouda has condemned the fact that some COVID-19 patients are being asked by some hospitals to pay for services which are supposed to be free.

In a circular signed Thursday April 16, Minister Manaouda Malachie says it has come to his notice that some health personnel charge fees to people who come for consultations or any other service linked to the Coronavirus pandemic (screening, hospitalization, treatment…).

Disclosing that this practice is unacceptable owing to the free nature of Coronavirus services in the country, the Health boss enjoined regional Delegates of public Health, Directors of public medical centres, and supervisors of laboratories approved to conduct COVID-19 tests to make sure that henceforth, all services linked to Coronavirus patient’s care are free.

Besides that, the latter are expected to channel their needs as far as Coronavirus patients care is concerned to Minister Malachie Manaouda within forty-eight hours.