The decision was taken by the Council of Ministers on Thursday, August 22, 2024.
The Nigerien government has decided to reduce health tariffs by 50% and to make deliveries free in public health centers as of September 1, 2024, according to the minutes of the Council of Ministers meeting held on August 22.
The Nigerien government has decided to reduce healthcare tariffs by 50% and to make deliveries free of charge, as of September 1, 2024, in public health centers, according to the minutes of the meeting.
“The current level of tariffs for health services in public health facilities is very unequal and represents a major obstacle to the population’s access to care,” reads the statement seen by APA.
The government explained that the measure aims to harmonise and reduce the costs that apply to all levels of the health pyramid, from health huts to national hospitals.
The new pricing system consists of a 50% reduction in the costs currently charged in public health facilities and covers curative consultations for people over 5 years of age, patient observation, hospitalisation, laboratory tests, imaging tests and medical-surgical procedures.
In addition, “childbirth will be free of charge, and patients will no longer have to pay the lifetime fee of FCFA 150,000 for dialysis,” the government added.
This measure comes on top of a similar one taken by the Nigerian government last July to reduce the price of hydrocarbons at the pump.
DS/ac/lb/as/APA