Babies Have Become Expensive

Fees charged for natural childbirth and caesarean operations is likely to go up by 100 per cent!

In time of financial crisis time the government has taken an unreasonable  step to trouble its residents by doubling the cost of baby delivery. In a circular issued to all its hospitals in the country, the Ministry of Health (MoH) has advised a 100 per cent increase in fees charged for natural childbirth and caesarean operations, according a report in Al Khaleej. The new fees for natural childbirth will go up from Dh2,500 to Dh5,000 and that for Caesarean operations from Dh4,000 to Dh8,000 from January 2011 onwards. Moreover, according to the circular, the fees charged will further double in the absence of a health card for the

An unnamed MoH official told the Arabic daily that “such increase is only to serve as an amendment to the fees,” and added that it comes in light of a sharp rise in prices of medicines, medical supplies and operational costs.

He further affirmed that despite the increase, the cost of childbirth in MoH-operated hospitals remained lower than private hospitals and affiliated health bodies.