Undocumented immigrants a burden on Polokwane hospital’s finances
Undocumented foreign nationals cannot be traced once they are discharged and therefore not be held accountable for their hospital bills.
POLOKWANE – It has become evident that the Pietersburg Provincial Hospital is battling with large numbers of undocumented foreign nationals who receive special or emergency medical services without having to pay for these.
The overwhelming figure of those whose identities in South Africa do not exist, creates a financial burden for the hospital – a cost that also impacts tax payers – as foreign nationals cannot be traced once they are discharged and therefore not be held accountable for their hospital bills.
This was made clear by some management officials of the hospital at a media briefing held at the facility’s learning centre last Thursday.
The session aimed to spread awareness around proper channels and the different categories of patients when in need of medical attention at the hospital.
“Those who may be unable to pay immediately, enter into a credit agreement with the hospital,” the hospital’s financial services director, Pfariseni Khangala said.
A valid SA identification document, proof of residence and proof of income are required for bookkeeping, only after an emergency patient are attended to, he said.
Funded patients are often referred by private doctors and use medical aid or insurance payment methods.
Costs for South Africans without insurance or aid vary based on their income, while children under the age of six and the elderly over 60 receive free services.
Foreign nationals in the hospital’s policies are also classified at citizens and a valid identification document is expected from them. However, as per the health constitution, they must still receive a service even when they do not produce the expected documents.
Health spokesperson, Neil Shikwambana said the department cannot deny emergency medical care to anyone on the basis of failure to pay, whether local or foreign.
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There is a court ruling that forces government to provide care even for undocumented foreign nationals, he highlighted.
The manager in the CEO’s office, David Makhafola said they also face service backlogs due to patients who demand service and don’t know what services are offered.
“As the biggest hospital in the province, we only serve as a referral hospital with 700 approved beds and 528 in use,” he said.
“We advise patients to trust their local health facilities to provide the same services that we would, as they travel far and wide to Polokwane, for a service that could have been offered at their local clinic.”
