N$4
namib times SERVING THE COASTAL COMMUNITY SINCE 1958 NO 6723
FRIDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2018
Tel: +264 64 - 205854 / +264 64 - 461866 /Fax: +264 64 - 204813 / 064 - 461824 / Website: www.namibtimes.net
Container terminal 76 % completed
inside More pictures of terminal
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The Namibia Ports Authority (Namport) confirmed yesterday construction progress to the container terminal on reclaimed land in the port of Walvis Bay reached the 76 % mark and is due for completion early 2019. This is the latest official report on this multi-billion Namibian Dollar project. (Report on Page 2).
“Abuse and fraud” urged doctors to charge Cottage Hospital call-out fee
Nächste Woche wieder ganz Locker vom Hocker
Mass Houses get owners
Sharlien Tjambari
As is the case with almost all issues in life, a few rotten apples spoil the bunch. The call-out fee of N$250 introduced by the private Medi-Clinic Cottage Hospital in Swakopmund at the end of 2017 is an effort to curb medical aid abuse and fraud. This was revealed this week by hospital manager Peter Sander after public outrage from an article in this regard in Tuesday's edition of namib times. Unscrupulous people defrauding or abusing the medical system have resulted in the introduction of the fee and the majority of law abiding and honest citizens has
to suffer as the result. The article in the newspaper also drew hundreds of social media reactions of the public already burdened by rising medical and medical aid costs now also having to fork
out this additional cash fee if they visit MediClinic Cottage Hospital in the event of a medical emergency. While Sander cleared up various concerns raised after the new call-out tariff was intro-
duced, he admitted no official notice was sent out to patients in advance, informing them of this decision. Hence, not only outrage by those who found out of the fee when they needed
medical assistance, but also those who heard of the call-out fee's introduction through reporting in namib times. According to Sander, a meeting with various doctors in Swakopmund was held on Monday evening (29 January) where the issue at hand, in particular the article by namib times, was
discussed. He did confirm that it was ultimately the doctors' decision to implement the changes in the payment procedure, when patients are taken up in the emergency room after hours. Sander continued to say the tariff was introduced in December 2017. "It became very evident that the majority of visits to the
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Walvis Bay shines at Snow Bike Festival
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