In spite of the Lagos State Government’s directive to state-owned General Hospitals and Primary Health Centres not to collect antenatal and delivery service fees from pregnant women as part of efforts to cushion the impact of the fuel subsidy removal, PUNCH Healthwise investigation revealed that the order is being flouted with impunity by several healthcare facilities.

When the Lagos State Government announced its plan to ameliorate the sufferings of pregnant women in the state by offering free antenatal and delivery services, many women were elated about the order, which they saw as a ‘sweet palliative’ in the face of the biting economic condition occasioned by the fuel subsidy removal.

However, it was discovered that pregnant women are being milked in several state-owned facilities meant to adhere strictly to this directive.

Mrs. Shola Adebowale, a petty trader was unaware of this free antenatal care and child delivery services when went to register at the General Hospital in Mushin.

The mother of two, while speaking with PUNCH Healthwise, claimed she was told to pay N27,200 for antenatal registration.

It was learnt that she made an initial payment of N7,700 as a pre-registration fee, which covered medical tests, examinations, a scan, and blood donation form meant for her husband.

The woman revealed that she made another payment of N19, 500, for antenatal registration, file, weekly antenatal consultation services and routine drugs that include folic acid, and B complex, among others.

It was discovered that while few facilities openly collect money from pregnant women as antenatal fees, others complied fully.

It was gathered that pregnant women still pay as high as N80,000 for antenatal care and normal delivery services, while over N158,000 is paid for those scheduled for caesarean sections.

Huge ANC and C/S payments at Amuwo-Odofin Maternal and Childcare Centre, Festac

On Friday, at the Amuwo-Odofin Maternal and Childcare Centre, Festac, after informing a nurse that he wanted to register his wife for antenatal, he was referred to the account section, where he made a Point of Sale payment of N5,000 to a cashier.

It was later learnt from a pregnant woman, Mrs. Confidence Frank, who also came for the same purpose that the much-touted free antenatal care and delivery services in Lagos State-owned hospitals, are not anywhere near the truth.

According to her, she registered for antenatal on Wednesday, at the same facility with N29,500.

Confidence, who came in the company of her husband, Frank, said N28,000 was the actual price of antenatal care, while N1,500 was for a compulsory magazine purchase.

She noted that the N29,500 was different from the hospital delivery fee of N46,500, meant for normal vaginal delivery, while N151,500 is meant for those slated to undergo C/S.

“The N151,500 is for those women booked for surgery or a registered mother, and not for an emergency case,” she revealed.

Confidence insisted that there is no such thing as free antenatal care in the Amuwo Odofin MCC, noting that all the women who registered on the same day with her paid N29,500 in cash, through transfers or POS transactions.

“Pray for a safe delivery, if not, you will rob the bank to pay for caesarean section bills here. My neighbour gave birth through C/S and paid over N140,000. So, in Festac, it’s not free. Even after ANC registration, they will tell you to go and buy some drugs that they do not have. These are drugs they are meant to give you and which is part of your payment,” she added.

Going through her receipts, our correspondent noted that the breakdown of the N29,500 antenatal fee charged includes N2,000 for the EMR-Registration card; N1, 000 pre-registration fee; registration proper (N10,000); random blood sugar test (N1,000); Sitz bath (N3, 500); laboratory fee (N5, 000); Scan (N3, 000); Nutrition (N3, 000); alert (N500); mackintosh (N1, 000) and magazine (N1, 500).

It was shocking to learn that an additional fee of N25,000 must be paid once the pregnancy exceeds 34 weeks, bringing the total amount to N54,500. This excludes the delivery fee.

Based on findings, the breakdown of the N46,500 meant for vaginal delivery at the Amuwo Odofin MCC are; N10, 000 delivery pack; N9, 000 for diet; accommodation (N10,000); admission pack (N5,000); gown (N4,000); miscellaneous (N2, 000); notification of birth (N1, 000); cervical screening (N5, 000) and circumcision/ear piercing (N5, 000).

It was further learnt that the Lagos State Health Management Agency, an initiative geared towards achieving universal health coverage, is meant to bring affordable healthcare to the populace.

However, it comes at no cheap rate and might be quite unaffordable for most residents who find it hard to make ends meet.

To register for the LASHMA policy, Ezekiel Ameh, who mans the office within the premises of Ojo Primary Healthcare Centre, said a pregnant woman is required to pay N40,000 to obtain the policy document in order to access the free antenatal care and delivery services.

Despite presenting the LASHMA policy, pregnant women are still expected to pay for all ANC services, as well as provide gloves, drinks, detergents and disinfectants among others for delivery.

Mrs. Rebecca Idris, who just gave birth at the centre, told our correspondent that she spent a total of N11,400 for tests and antenatal registration.

The woman, who spoke, said paying for delivery and accommodation is a big problem they are faced with at the moment.

Meanwhile, a midwife at the PHC, who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “Before we register any woman for antenatal, she would have to go for a scan to know whether the baby is in good condition. If the scan shows a twin or triplet, the woman will be referred to a general hospital because we don’t have the capacity to handle such.

His wife, Jane, said she was not aware that antenatal care services and delivery for women in Lagos State General Hospitals are free.

“I never knew; I don’t have an idea either. We just came with the mindset to pay for my registration, delivery and others. My husband has a policy that made him pay less but everything here is paid for,” said.

N5,000 ANC payment at Oluremi Tinubu Primary Health Centre, Festac,

At the Oluremi Tinubu Primary Health Centre, 41 Road, Festac, our correspondent was made to know that the facility does not collect money for ANC and delivery services from pregnant women.

He, however, discovered that the health officials ask for N5,000 from pregnant women as ANC registration.

While making inquiries from the Officer-in-Charge of the PHC, Mrs. T. Eso, she said with LASHMA, no payment is required apart from the N1,000 collected as revenue for the council.

“We don’t collect money for antenatal and delivery but you have to go for a scan and other tests, which you will pay for. It is through the scan result and physical examination that we will know whether to admit you here or refer you to the maternal and childcare centre.

However, investigations revealed that almost 90 per cent of the registered pregnant women at Amuwo Odofin MCC paid out-of-pocket for antenatal registration and delivery.

This was evident with the huge number of pregnant women and men, waiting to make payments when our correspondent visited. (Punch)