The Rivers State Government has allayed fears in some quarters that the handing over of the Dental Maxillofacial Hospital and the Prof. Kelsey Harrison Hospitals will put the facilities beyond the reach of the average Rivers Man and Woman.
Rivers State Health Commissioner Dr. Tamunoiyoriari Parker allayed the fears while speaking to news men in his office in Port Harcourt.
According to the Commissioner, residents of the State who have registered for the free Medical Care Programme will be treated free when referred to these facilities, while government will pick the bills.
He said the hospitals will charge fees for private patients who are not registered into the free medical care programme to access medicare.
The commissioner said although the hospitals are fully owned by the state government, it decided to contract its management and operations to International Trauma and Critical Care Limited (ITCC).
According to him government will soon set up a Joint Management Board to regulate the operations of the hospitals.
