During the summer and fall, because of the reduction in usage, the hospital administration had consistently "raised their prices" to try to meet expenses.This "response", in our opinion only aggravated the problem even further.
In early January, the doctor made a number of visits to area villages to ask folk why they were not using the hospital services. The overwhelming response was "We cannot pay for the services, so why come!"
While the hospital provides a "ministry" of aiding the healing process, it ALSO must generate revenue to pay for medicines, supplies and salaries. Hospitals in the States do not secure their all of their income from patient revenues, they rely on subsidies of many kinds, foundations, grants, and re-imbursements from the State and Federal governments.Here, most hospitals have large "subventions", or subsidies.For example the hospital in Vanga has over 60% of its budget "subsidized" from sources outside the country.
The hospital in Kikongo, on the other hand, has only about 3% of its budget originating from "sources other than patient revenues", hence a MASSIVE challenge when the majority of the folk here are barely surviving as subsistence farmers and have little "cash" income.
After the village visits, the doctor and administrative staff decided to CUT ALL PRICES for medications and service IN HALF, and to ELIMINATE ALTOGETHER the consultation fee for talking with the doctor. And, he had the courage to reduce the number of staff hours.
Within two days, by only "word of mouth" announcement, there were 10 new patients, and by the end of January, 45 patients. In February there were 65 new patients!! SO, while the "administrative challenge" continues, the overall result has been MORE PEOPLE being treated, and "increasing revenues" coming in the door.
Thus the "HEALING" HAS BEGUN!