Rise in cost of medical treatment for foreigners

The government has increased the cost of medical treatment to foreigners, the first revision since 1997.

The new tariffs were published in a legal notice of the Government Gazette yesterday, and were described by the government in a statement as reflecting the increases in the costs of providing such service.

The increases will not affect British and Australian patients, whose care is covered by a reciprocal agreement. It will therefore affect about 55 per cent of foreign patients.

The fee for hospital inpatient treatment has been increased to Lm85 a day, while recovery in the intensive care unit is Lm300 a day and in a high dependency unit Lm150 per day.

The fee for a minor operation under local anaesthetic is Lm85, under general anaesthetic Lm165, for an intermediate operation Lm350, and for a major operation Lm750. Specialised surgery, such as neuro-surgery, some transplants, and heart surgery will cost Lm2,250.

Fees were also revised for investigations and other procedures.