"Means testing" is a very crude, ugly, and stressful way of going about it! Take my advice, and reject the whole idea of charging for the use of medical equipment. Almost by definition, it's the last thing the patient wants to worry about!
It's also the last thing that the medical staff should be worrying about, too. That is, "I wonder if this young woman will be able to pay for this ultrasound exam."? (or whatever). Or, "judging by the ragged state of this child, I had better not call for a battery of lab tests ... there's
no way that his parents will be able to meet the bill"! Or even ... "OK, it's time to switch off the ventilator, your mother has had her ten dollars' worth"!
Surely anyone can see where such a "policy" leads? If not, here it is, I'll spell it out:- it will lead to the weakest, poorest and probably the most deserving members of the community being denied the help and care they need, whilst all the resources are heaped on to those with bulging wallets. It's wrong, plain and simple.
Do you work for the Ministry?
Anyway, here's my sincere advice for the Minister ... be human!
Meanwhile, here in
this part of the world, almost no-one has health insurance, due to the fact that the government hospitals (which provide almost all of the front line health services) are funded through general taxation. Why don't your people try that?
... the government does not cover her citizens.
What
does the government do, then, if it doesn't care for the people (what is it there for)?
