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Public Hospitals and Dispensaries Act

LAWS OF FIJI

CHAPTER 110

PUBLIC HOSPITALS AND DISPENSARIES

Ordinances Nos. 13 of 1955, 37 of 1966,
Act No. 4 of 1976

AN ACT FOR THE REGULATION OF PUBLIC HOSPITALS AND
DISPENSARIES AND FOR MATTERS RELATED THERETO

[15th April, 1955]

Short title

1. This Act may be cited as the Public Hospitals and Dispensaries Act.

Interpretation

2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires-

"medical officer in charge" of a public hospital or public dispensary means the medical officer appointed by the Permanent Secretary to supervise and control the management of any public hospital or public dispensary;

"officer in charge" of a public hospital or public dispensary means the officer in immediate charge of the management of a public hospital or public dispensary;

"Permanent Secretary" means the Permanent Secretary for Health;

"public hospital" and "public dispensary" means respectively a hospital or dispensary maintained out of public funds and includes a health centre or a nursing station. (Amended by 4 of 1976, s. 5.)

Admission to public hospitals

3. The admission of patients to, and the continuance of their stay, in public hospital shall be in the discretion of the officer in charge of the hospital.

Guarantee of payment

4. Every person seeking admission to a public hospital for treatment therein shall, save in the case of those admitted under any of the provisions of section 5, either deposit with the officer in charge of the hospital or a person authorised in that behalf by him a sum sufficient to cover the cost of his maintenance and treatment therein for one week or give to the officer or person aforesaid such guarantee of payment of all charges and fees for maintenance and treatment as to such officer or person may appear satisfactory.

Urgent cases and poor persons

5.-(1) Persons seeking admission to a public hospital and suffering from the effect of severe accident or from disease threatening speedy death and requiring prompt treatment shall be admitted thereto as soon as may be.

(2) The medical officer in charge of any public hospital or, in his absence, the officer in charge of such hospital may admit to the hospital any person who requires medical care and treatment but who appears to such officer to be unable by reason of poverty to pay therefor.

(3) Persons admitted under the provisions of this section shall not be required to make a deposit or give a guarantee of payment but nothing in this section shall be deemed to relieve any person admitted thereunder from liability to pay charges and fees for maintenance and treatment.

Regulations

6.-(1) The Minister may make regulations relating to-

(a) the government and management of public hospitals and public dispensaries and the patients therein and the admission and discharge of patients and the admission of visitors;

(b) the charges for the maintenance of patients in public hospitals and the charges for the treatment of patients and for the supply of medicines and services thereto in public hospitals and public dispensaries and the charges for services outside the public hospital or dispensary of staff attached to a public hospital or dispensary and the time and manner of payment thereof;

(c) the powers and duties of the staff including all officers, nurses and servants of public hospitals and public dispensaries;

(d) exemption from the payment of the whole or any part of any charge;

(e) the general purposes of this Act.

(2) Regulations made under the provisions of paragraph (c) of subsection (1) may prescribe fines for the breach of any regulation made thereunder not exceeding for any one offence the sum of one dollar.

(3) The medical officer in charge of a public hospital shall have power, subject to the approval of the Permanent Secretary to inflict any fine prescribed under the regulations and to enforce payment thereof by the deduction of the amount of the fine from the offending officer's or servant's salary or wages:

Provided that no fine shall be inflicted save after due enquiry in the presence of the officer or servant concerned, who shall be given full opportunity to answer any charges made against him.
(Section amended by 37 of 1966, s. 35.)

Remission of fines and fees

7.-(1) It shall be lawful for the Permanent Secretary in his discretion to remit any fine payable under any regulation made under the provisions of section 6.

(2) The medical officer in charge of any public hospital or public dispensary may, on being satisfied that any person, liable to pay any charge payable under the provisions of any regulation made under the provisions of section 6, is unable by reason of poverty to pay all or any part of such charge remit in whole or in part such charge.

Appointment of Board

8.-(1) The Minister may appoint for each public hospital a Board of Visitors consisting of not less than three persons, the majority of which shall not be members of the public service. One of such members, not being a member of the public service, shall be appointed chairman.

(2) Every visitor shall hold office for two years but may be re-appointed for a further term or terms:

Provided that-

(a) the Minister may at any time remove or displace any visitor appointed by him and may appoint another in his stead;

(b) any visitor may by notice in writing addressed to the Minister resign his appointment.

Visits

9. Every Board of Visitors shall, once at least in every three months, visit and inspect every part of the public hospital for which it is appointed, and so far as circumstances permit shall see every patient therein and the books relating to the administration and management of the hospital and shall enter in a book to be kept for the purpose (to be styled the Hospital Visitors' Book) any remarks which it may deem proper in regard to the condition and management of the hospital and the patients therein, and shall sign such book upon every visit:

Provided that the powers granted under this section shall not be interpreted to include any right to enquire into, comment upon or criticise any technical modes of treatment of the sick adopted by the medical officer in charge.

Annual reports by Board

10.-(1) Every Board of Visitors shall in the month of June in every year forward to the Minister a report in writing on the state and condition of the hospital for which it has been appointed and the sufficiency of accommodation therein, and shall make such observations in relation to any matters connected with such hospital as it may think fit.

(2) In addition to the annual report the Board of Visitors shall make such reports upon any matter connected with such hospital as may be specially directed by the Minister.

Trespass in hospital grounds

11.-(1) Any person who enters into or upon the premises or grounds of any public hospital without lawful excuse shall be guilty of an offence and upon conviction shall be liable to a fine not exceeding ten dollars.

(2) The provisions of subsection (1) shall not derogate from the provisions of section 197 of the Penal Code:
(Cap. 17)

Provided that a person shall not on the same facts be convicted both under the provisions of this section and of section 197 aforesaid.

Recovery of fees and charges

12.-(1) All fees and charges made under the provisions of this Act or regulations made thereunder shall when collected or recovered be paid into the Consolidated Fund.

(2) Any fee or charge payable under or by virtue of this Act and remaining unpaid after the due date for payment may, in addition to any other lawful method or recovery, be recovered as a debt due to the Crown.

Controlled by Ministry of Health

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CHAPTER 110
PUBLIC HOSPITALS AND DISPENSARIES
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SECTION 6-PUBLIC HOSPITALS AND DISPENSARIES REGULATIONS
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TABLE OF PROVISIONS
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PART I-PRELIMINARY

REGULATION
1. Short title
2. Interpretation

PART II-ORGANIZATION AND STAFF

3. Staff
4. Control of hospitals, etc.
5. Duties of staff

PART III-PRIVATE PATIENTS IN PUBLIC HOSPITALS

6. Attendance on private patients

PART IV-PATIENTS

Division 1 - In-Patients

7. Discharge by request
8. Beds, etc.
9. Patient's valuables
10. Care and custody of valuables
11. Power to require valuables to be given to relative
12. Disposal of property on death
13. Admission and discharge of persons under detention
14. Responsibility for persons under detention
15. Entering other wards
16. Visiting other patients
17. Diet
18. Disorderly behaviour, etc.

Division 2 - Out-Patients

19. Hours of attendance

PART V-HOSPITAL CHARGES

20. Charges
21. Responsibility for payment of charges
22. Classification of accommodation
23. Special diet
24. Particular accommodation
25. Calculation of number of days
26. Child admitted with mother
27. In-patients, charges for medicine, etc. Accounts
28. Out-patients charges, payment
29. Supplies from hospital or dispensary stocks
30. Free hospital treatment
31. Charges for maintenance in a public ward of a public hospital
32. Charges at out-patient clinics
33. Free dental treatment
34. Vaccination and inoculation
35. Free X-ray
36. Free examinations and certificates
37. Free accommodation
38. Children in paying wards
39. Treatment of leprosy and tuberculosis

PART VI-VISITORS

40. Visiting hours
41. Visits outside visiting hours
42. Control of visits
43. Prohibition of visits
44. Taking tobacco, etc., into ward

PART VII-GENERAL

45. Religious services
46. Entry of certain parts of buildings prohibited
47. Trespass in hospital buildings, etc.
48. Disorderly behaviour in buildings, etc.

First Schedule-Scale of Charges in Public Hospitals and Public Dispensaries and for Out-Services by the Staff thereof

Second Schedule-Form of Certificate

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Regulations 1 November 1955, 6 November 1956, 29 January 1957, 3 April 1958, 7 November 1958, 3 April 1959, 6 August 1959, 8 October 1959, 29 November 1961, 8 August 1963, 31 August 1964, 12 March 1965, 20 July 1966,
Legal Notices Nos. 115 of 1968,140 of 1969, 112 of 1970, 31 of 1974, 32 of 1974, 73 of 1976, 187 of 1980, 14 of 1983

PART I-PRELIMINARY

Short title

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Public Hospitals and Dispensaries Regulations.

Interpretation

2. In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires-

"consultant's clinic" means an out-patient clinic at any public hospital held by a consulting physician, surgeon or other specialist;

"general hospital" means the principal public hospital in a Division;

"general out-patient clinic" means any clinic other than a consultant's clinic or special out-patient clinic;

"medical practitioner" means a government medical officer;

"special out-patient clinic" means a clinic at any public hospital at which special arrangements may be made for the reception of patients or where a particular disease is treated;

"visitor to Fiji" means a person arriving in Fiji for an intended stay of any period not exceeding four months, and includes any member of the crew of any visiting overseas ship or aircraft.

(Inserted by Regulations 29 November 1961; and amended by Regulations 12 March 1965.)

PART II-ORGANIZATION AND STAFF

Staff

3. The staff of each public hospital and public dispensary shall consist of such classes of officers and employees in such numbers as the Permanent Secretary may from time to time determine.

Control of hospitals, etc.

4. The Permanent Secretary shall exercise general control and supervision over the organization and management of all public hospitals and public dispensaries and over the expenses of their administration. In the absence from Fiji of the Permanent Secretary the powers and authority granted to him by virtue of these Regulations shall be exercised by the Director of Curative Medical Services.

Duties of staff

5. The duties of officers and employees of all classes employed in public hospitals or public dispensaries shall be such as may from time to time be laid down in writing by the Permanent Secretary and such officers and employees shall at all times obey all orders and directions relating to their duties or to the administration and management of the hospital or dispensary issued by the Permanent Secretary.

PART III-PRIVATE PATIENTS IN PUBLIC HOSPITALS

Attendance on private patients

6.-(1) The Permanent Secretary may, at his discretion and subject to such conditions as he may deem fit to impose, permit any registered medical practitioner, not in the employ of the Government, to continue to attend any private patient after the admission of such patient to a public hospital.

(2) The Permanent Secretary may at any time without notice withdraw any permission granted by him in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (1).

PART IV-PATIENTS

Division 1-In-Patients

Discharge by request

7. No patient shall be refused discharge from any public hospital if he himself requests such discharge or if, in the case of a patient under the age of twenty-one years, the request for discharge is made by the patient's parent or legal guardian, unless there is statutory authority to detain the patient in hospital on account of infectious disease, unsoundness of mind, or other reason.

Beds, etc.

8.-(1) Every patient admitted to a public hospital shall occupy the bed in the ward allocated to him by the officer in charge of the hospital and no patient shall be entitled to claim any particular grade of accommodation within the hospital. Any patient may after admission be moved to any other ward by the officer in charge of the hospital notwithstanding that such other ward provides accommodation of a grade lower than that of the ward from which the patient has been removed.

(2) The allocation of patients, whether in-patients or out-patients, to the care of the various members of the hospital medical and nursing staff shall be an administrative matter for decision by the medical officer in charge of the hospital and no patient shall be entitled to demand that he be placed under the care of any particular member of the hospital medical or nursing staff.

Patient's valuables

9. A patient shall at the time of his admission to hospital hand for safe keeping to the officer in charge of the hospital or to the nursing sister in charge of the ward to which he is admitted, any money, jewellery or other valuable property in his possession and unless such property is so handed over for safe keeping no responsibility shall lie with the hospital authority for its loss during the patient's stay in hospital.

Care and custody of valuables

10.-(1) The officer in charge of a public hospital shall see that suitable arrangements are made for the safe keeping in a locked room, cupboard, safe, strong box or other repository of all property received from patients in accordance with the provisions of regulation 9. He shall take such steps as may be necessary to ensure that-

(a) a register is kept in which shall be entered separately under the name of each patient details of all property so received;

(b) a detailed receipt is issued to each patient for all such property received from him, a carbon duplicate of such receipt being retained by the officer issuing it.

(2) On being discharged from hospital a patient shall have all property handed over by him for safe keeping returned to him on his surrendering and counter-signing the receipt issued in respect of it.

Power to require valuables to be given to relative

11. Notwithstanding anything contained in regulation 9 or 10, if the officer in charge of any public hospital is of opinion that no adequate facilities exist in the hospital for the safe keeping of patients' property, he may, in the event of such property being preferred to him for safe keeping, require that it be given by the patient into the keeping of a relative or friend outside the hospital and if such property is then retained in the hospital by the patient the officer in charge of the hospital shall not be held responsible for its loss.

Disposal of property on death

12.-(1) In the event of the death of a patient in a public hospital any property accepted from him for safe keeping in accordance with the provisions of regulation 9 shall be handed by or on behalf of the officer in charge of the hospital to the next of kin of the patient or if such next of kin is not known and cannot be reasonably traced or is outside Fiji such property shall be handed to the Public Trustee to be dealt with by him under the provisions of the Public Trustee Act.
(Cap. 64.)

(2) A detailed receipt for the property handed over under the provisions of paragraph (1) shall be signed by the recipient and a copy of every such receipt shall be forwarded to the Public Trustee.
(Substituted by Legal Notice 140 of 1969.)

Admission and discharge of persons under detention

13. Any person under detention in any prison or mental hospital or approved institution requiring admission to a public hospital as an in-patient shall be sent by the superintendent of such prison or mental hospital or approved institution under escort to the officer in charge of the hospital together with the warrant of commitment. The officer in charge of the hospital or any person authorised by him shall give to the escort a receipt for the patient and the warrant and shall retain the warrant in safe keeping at the hospital for so long as the patient remains an in-patient. When the patient is ready to be discharged from the hospital the officer in charge of the hospital or any person authorised by him shall notify the superintendent of the prison or mental hospital or approved institution from which the patient came and the superintendent shall then make arrangements for the return of the patient under escort to the prison or mental hospital or approved institution together with the warrant of commitment. The escort shall give a receipt for the patient and the warrant to the officer in charge of the hospital or any other person duly authorised by him.

Responsibility for persons under detention

14. The superintendent of any prison or mental hospital from which any person under detention is sent to a public hospital shall be responsible for taking all necessary steps to prevent the escape of such person while he is in hospital, including if necessary the provision of a guard. It shall however be the duty of the nursing sister or nurse in charge of the ward to report to the officer in charge of the hospital, immediately it is discovered, the escape of any person under legal detention from a ward in her charge and the officer in charge of the hospital shall then at once inform the superintendent of the prison or mental hospital from which the person came and shall take such other steps in the matter as he may consider necessary.

Entering other wards

15. No patient in any public hospital shall enter any other part of the hospital than the ward assigned to him except with the permission of the officer in charge of the hospital.

Visiting other patients

16. No patient in any ward of any public hospital may visit a patient in any other ward except at such times and under such conditions as the officer in charge of the hospital may approve.

Diet

17. The diet of hospital patients shall be in accordance with scales laid down by the Permanent Secretary.

Disorderly behaviour etc.

18. Any patient who behaves in a disorderly manner or who refuses all treatment offered to him or who disobeys or fails to comply with the provisions of these Regulations or who disobeys or fails to comply with any instruction or order given to him under proper authority by a member of the medical or nursing staff may be summarily discharged from hospital by the medical officer in charge.

Division 2-Out-Patients

Hours of attendance

19. Out-patients seeking attention at a public hospital or public dispensary shall, unless other arrangements are made in any particular case by a medical officer on the staff of such hospital or dispensary, be seen, except on public holidays, between the hours of 8.30 o'clock in the morning and 1 o'clock in the afternoon and between the hours of 2 o'clock and 4 o'clock in the afternoon on Mondays to Fridays, inclusive, and between the hours of 8.30 o'clock in the morning and 12 noon on Saturdays:

Provided that cases requiring special attention shall, if necessary, be seen outside such hours.
(Substituted by Regulations 20 July 1966.)

PART V-HOSPITAL CHARGES

Charges

20.-(1) Subject to the other provisions of these Regulations, the charges set out in the First Schedule shall be made in respect of the matters therein set out.

(2) Where a charge in the First Schedule is stated as a maximum charge, the charge in a particular case shall, subject to the limit imposed, be determined by the officer in charge.

(3) Where a patient or the person responsible for the maintenance of a patient is unable to meet the charges in respect of treatment at a general out-patient clinic or in a public ward of a public hospital, he shall be exempt from such charges on the production of a certificate in the form set out in the Second Schedule signed by a District Officer or a person authorised in writing by a District Officer to give such certificates.
(Inserted by Regulations 29 November 1961.)

(4) Such a certificate shall remain in force for the period specified therein and otherwise for a period of twelve months from the date thereof.
(Inserted by Regulations 29 November 1961.)

(5) Unless otherwise specified in the First Schedule, the charges payable by visitors to Fiji shall be double those prescribed in such Schedule.
(Inserted by Legal Notice 140 of 1969.)

Responsibility for payment of charges

21. The responsibility for the payment of any laboratory, X-ray examination or delivery room fees in respect of a patient referred to the hospital by a private medical or dental practitioner shall lie with the private practitioner concerned:

Provided that if such patient is admitted as an in-patient to the hospital, the hospital shall be responsible for the collection of such fees from the patient.
(Amended by Regulations 29 November 1961 and 6 October 1969.)

Classification of accommodation

22. For the purpose of determining the in-patient accommodation and maintenance charges as set out in the First Schedule, the Permanent Secretary may decide how the accommodation available in any particular public hospital is to be classified and the appropriate rate to be charged for any particular accommodation in such hospital.

Special diet

23. Where any patient in any public hospital is provided at his own request with a diet other than the diet normally prepared for the ward in which he is accommodated an additional charge may be made. The amount of such charge shall be determined in each case by the officer in charge.

Particular accommodation

24. In any case where a patient is provided with any particular grade of accommodation in a public hospital, not at his own request but on the directions of the officer in charge of the hospital in view of special circumstances such as the nature of the patient's illness or the availability of beds at the time, the patient shall be charged the rate for the grade of accommodation to which he was admitted or the rate for the grade of accommodation to which he was removed whichever shall be the lower.

Calculation of number of days

25. In calculating the number of days for which charges for patient accommodation or diet shall be charged the day of admission shall be included but not the day of discharge.

Child admitted with mother

26. When in the opinion of the officer in charge of any public hospital it is necessary that a child under two years of age and its mother should be admitted together, only one of the two being admitted as a patient for treatment, full fees as for one person only shall be charged.

In-patients, charges for medicine, etc.

27.-(1) Charges payable by in-patients for treatment, maintenance or the supply of medicines or services shall accrue due from day to day.

Accounts

(2) Without prejudice to the right to make earlier demand for any charges due, the officer responsible for the accounts of the hospital shall, on the discharge of any in-patient from any public hospital, prepare a detailed account of all hospital charges owing by such patient and shall see that such account is handed to the patient before he leaves the hospital.

Out-patients charges, payment

28. All out-patient charges whether for consultation, treatment, medicines, or for any other hospital laboratory or dispensary services or supplies shall be paid by the person responsible for such payment at the time of each attendance of the patient or at the time such charges are incurred.

Supplies from hospital or dispensary stocks

29. In the case of any out-patient treated at a public hospital or dispensary, the medical practitioner treating such out-patient shall have power to decide whether any medicines, drugs, dressings or medical supplies necessary for the treatment of such out-patient shall be supplied from hospital or dispensary stocks or whether he issues a prescription whereby such medicines, drugs, dressings or medical supplies may be obtained at the expense of such out-patient.
(Substituted by Regulations 29 November 1961.)

Free hospital treatment

30. All treatment given to a patient accommodated in a public ward in any public hospital and all drugs, medicines, dressings and other medical supplies used in such treatment shall be free of charge.
(Amended by Regulations 29 November 1961.)

Charges for maintenance in a public ward of a public hospital

31. Except where an additional charge is made under the provisions of regulation 23, or where the fees have been reduced or remitted, charges for the maintenance of a patient in a public ward in any public hospital shall be at the rates set out in the First Schedule.
(Substituted by Regulations 29 November 1961.)

Charges at out-patient clinics

32.-(1) Charges for attendance at out-patient clinics at any public hospital or dispensary shall be at the rates set out in the First Schedule.

(2) Attendance charges at general out-patient clinics shall include all medicines, dressings and other supplies used in the treatment of the patient but when special medicines, dressings and other medical supplies are provided, the charge shall be the actual cost of such special medicines, dressings and other supplies, together with an amount of 10 per cent of such actual cost unless the medical practitioner treating such patient issues a prescription whereby such special medicines, dressings or medical supplies may be obtained at the patient's expense.

(3) The Permanent Secretary may specify by writing under his hand the medicines, dressings or medical supplies which are special medicines, dressings or medical supplies for the purpose of this regulation.

(4) Subject to the provisions of regulations 21 and 35, charges for X-ray and laboratory examinations at the rates set out in the First Schedule shall be paid where such examinations are requested by a private medical practitioner or by persons attending a special out-patient clinic.
(Substituted by Regulations 29 November 1961.)

Free dental treatment

33. No charge shall be made for any dental examination or treatment given at any mobile dental out-patient clinic to a child who has not yet reached its eighteenth birthday.
(Substituted by Regulations 12 March 1965.)

Vaccination and inoculation

34. No charge shall be made at any public hospital or public dispensary for any protective vaccination or inoculation given in the general interests of the public health in Fiji; but a charge may be made when such vaccination or inoculation is carried out at the request of an individual, or a parent or guardian of such individual, for the personal protection of the individual so treated, and is not necessary in the general interests of the public health in Fiji.
(Substituted by Regulations 3 April 1958.)

Free X-ray

35. No charge shall be made for any X-ray or laboratory examination where such examination is certified by a medical practitioner as being necessary in the interests of general public health.
(Amended by Regulations 29 November 1961.)

Free examinations and certificates

36. No charge shall be made to any Government department for any examination made or certificate given at the request of such department for the purpose of the functions or duties of the department.

Free accommodation

37.-(1) The following classes of persons shall be entitled to free accommodation and maintenance, treatment, and other hospital services:-

(a) ex-members of Her Majesty's Forces who served in the war of 1914-18, their wives and their children under the age of eighteen years;

(b) members and ex-members of Her Majesty's Forces (including the Home Guard, the Emergency Reserve Corps, and the British Merchant Navy) who served in the war of 1939-45 in respect of an illness or injury contracted or received in the course of such service and attributable to such service;

(c) persons ordered into and detained in hospital under any statutory authority on account of infectious disease, mental disease, or for any other such reason;

(d) persons transferred to hospital from any prison or approved institution;

(e) members and ex-members of the Royal Fiji Military Forces in respect of an illness or injury contracted or received in the course of service in Malaya and attributable to such service;

(f) students at the Fiji School of Medicine, the Fiji School of Agriculture and the Nasinu Training College;

(Inserted by Regulations 29 January 1957; amended by Legal Notice 140 of 1969.)

(g) members of the permanent staff of the Fiji Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve;

(h) soldiers of the Regular Force of the Royal Fiji Military Forces;

(i) officers of the Royal Fiji Police Force below the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police;

(j) officers of the Fiji Prisons Service below the rank of Chief Prisons Officer;

(k) members of the Fiji Royal Naval Reserve not being members of the permanent staff, soldiers of the Territorial Force of the Royal Fiji Military Forces and members of the Special Constabulary of the Royal Fiji Police Force where the treatment is occasioned by injury or illness arising out of their duties with the said Reserve, Force or Special Constabulary;

(Paragraphs (g) to (k) inserted by Regulations 3 April 1959.)

(l) all children under the age of fifteen years admitted to the public ward of a public hospital;

(Amended by Legal Notice 140 of 1969.)

(m) all cases of infectious diseases admitted to a public hospital which in the opinion of a Government medical officer are admitted for the purpose of protecting the health of the public;

(n) all women attending an ante-natal clinic at a public hospital or dispensary;

(o) all patients attending family planning clinics:

Provided that the officer conducting the clinic may make a charge for medical supplies provided;

(Paragraphs (1) to (o) inserted by Regulations 29 November 1961.)

(p) any employee of the Government, in respect of any medical examination carried out or medical treatment rendered in accordance with and to the extent required by any law for the time being in force relating to workmen's compensation;

(q) any person serving in Fiji-

(i) as a member of the Peace Corps of the United States of America; or

(ii) under the British Volunteer Programme or under any similar Commonwealth scheme:

(Inserted by Legal Notice 115 of 1968.)

Provided that-

(i) in the case of any person in any of the above free categories requiring admission to hospital as an in-patient, the appropriate ward to which he shall be admitted shall be decided by the officer in charge of the hospital, and if the patient then requests a higher grade of accommodation he shall be charged the difference between the rate for the accommodation allotted to him by the officer in charge of the hospital and the rate for the accommodation to which he may be removed;

(ii) the Permanent Secretary may, with the approval of the Minister, by order declare that any of the hospital services or supplies set out in the First Schedule hereto shall not be provided free under this regulation.

(Amended by Legal Notice 112 of 1970.)

(2) Any officer or employee of the Government shall be exempt from the payment of any charge or part thereof to the extent and in the circumstances laid down in any General Order applying to such officer or employee or in any agreement or contract made by the Government applying to such officer or employee.

(3) Ministers and Assistant Ministers shall be exempt from the payment of any charge or part thereof to the same extent, mutatis mutandis, and in the same circumstances, mutatis mutandis, as are laid down in any General Order applying to officers or employees of the Government earning the same basic salary as such Ministers and Assistant Ministers or if there are no such officers or employees earning the same salary as a Minister or an Assistant Minister, as are laid down in any General Order applying to such officers or employees earning the next highest salary immediately below that earned by that Minister or that Assistant Minister.
(Inserted by Legal Notice 32 of 1974).

Children in paying wards

38. Children under the age of fifteen years admitted to a paying ward of a public hospital shall be charged one half of the in-patient accommodation and maintenance charges.
(Inserted by Legal Notice 140 of 1969.)

Treatment of leprosy and tuberculosis

39. In respect of any person who-

(a) was born in Fiji; or

(b) is ordinarily resident in Fiji; and

(c) has been certified by a Government medical officer to be suffering from leprosy or tuberculosis or is being treated in respect thereof as an in-patient in any Government hospital or is certified by a Government medical officer to be unfit for work, as a result of either of such diseases, his wife and his dependent children under the age of eighteen years,

no charge shall be made for accommodation, maintenance, treatment and other hospital services.
(Substituted by Legal Notice 140 of 1969.)

PART VI-VISITORS

Visiting hours

40. Visitors shall be admitted to see patients in any public hospital at such times as the Permanent Secretary may determine by notice published in the Gazette as the official visiting hours and subject to the provisions of regulation 41 no person shall enter any ward or visit any patient at any time other than the official visiting hours.

Visits outside visiting hours

41. The officer in charge of a hospital may at his discretion where in his opinion special circumstances exist permit a visitor to see a patient t a time other than the official visiting hours for such period of time and subject to such conditions as the officer in charge of the hospital may see fit.

Control of visits

42. Subject to the approval of the Permanent Secretary, the officer in charge of a public hospital may, by the issue of visitors' cards or by other means, make such arrangements for the control of hospital visits as he may consider necessary in the interests of the welfare of the patients and the efficient management of the hospital.

Prohibition of visits

43. Any visitor or visitors may at any time by reason of special circumstances be prohibited by the officer in charge of any public hospital from entering any ward or visiting any patient during the official visiting hours or at any other time:

Provided that where such a prohibition results in the general closure of a ward or wards to all visitors or the general curtailment of the official visiting hours to such ward or wards for more than a brief period the officer in charge of the hospital shall report the matter to the Permanent Secretary for his confirmation or otherwise of the action taken.

Taking tobacco, etc., into ward

44. No visitor or other person shall take into any ward of any public hospital or give or send to any patient any tobacco or any food or drink of any kind without the express permission of the officer in charge of the hospital and the officer in charge of the hospital may order the removal from a ward of any article brought to a patient without his prior approval.

PART VII-GENERAL

Religious services

45. Religious services or addresses of any kind to the patients in any ward of any public hospital shall be permitted only at such times and subject to such conditions as may be approved by the officer in charge of the hospital having regard to the welfare and comfort of the patients and the efficient management of the hospital:

Provided that in the case of any patient who is seriously ill no reasonable request to conduct any form of religious service or ceremony or to offer prayers or other spiritual comfort or consolation quietly at the bedside of the patient shall at any time be refused if the patient himself wishes it.

Entry of certain parts of buildings prohibited

46. No person, other than an authorised member of the hospital staff, present at any public hospital whether as an out-patient or visitor or on any other business, shall enter the kitchen, dispensary, store-rooms or any other part of the hospital buildings not normally open to the general public without the prior permission of the officer in charge of the hospital.

Trespass in hospital buildings, etc.

47. Any person found within any part of the grounds or buildings of any public hospital or public dispensary, unless seeking medical attention or attending as a visitor during prescribed visiting hours or present on other lawful business, may be instructed by the officer in charge of the hospital or dispensary or the matron or any sister on duty to leave the grounds of the hospital or dispensary.

Disorderly behaviour in buildings, etc.

48. Any person who, within the grounds or buildings of any public hospital or public dispensary, behaves in a disorderly manner or otherwise misconducts himself may be instructed by the officer in charge of the hospital or the matron or any sister on duty to leave the grounds of the hospital or dispensary.

_______

FIRST SCHEDULE

(Regulation 20, 31, 32)
(Substituted by Legal Notice 187 of 1980;
amended by Legal Notice 14 of 1983.)

SCALE OF CHARGES IN PUBLIC HOSPITALS AND PUBLIC
DISPENSARIES AND FOR OUT-SERVICES BY THE STAFF THEREOF

(1) In-patient Accommodation and Maintenance Charges:-

In any hospital where any of the following grades of accommodation are provided:-

$ c
Private suite ............................................. 25.00 per day
Private ward-single bed......................... 10.00 " "
Semi-private ward-two beds................. 6.00 " "
General paying ward............................... 4.00 " "
Public ward.............................................. 0.50 " "

Provided that in the case of a visitor to Fiji, the following charges shall apply in lieu of those specified above:

Private suite.......................................................... 100.00 per day
Private ward-single bed........................................ 50.00 " "
Semi-private ward-two beds................................. 40.00 " "

General paying ward............................................ 30.00 per day
Public ward........................................................... 20.00 " "
Babies under 6 months old retained in or
re-admitted to the General paying ward allotted
to maternity cases, unaccompanied by their
mothers-a fee not exceeding.................................... 0.50 " "

(The above charge applies in respect of the Colonial War Memorial Hospital, Suva, the Lautoka Hospital and other Government Institutions where facilities are available).

(2) Out-Patient Charges

(a) Charges for general out-patient clinics at-

I-Colonial War Memorial Hospital,
Lautoka Hospital and Labasa Hospital-

Fiji Citizens................................................ 0.50 per attendance
Others......................................................... 5.00 " "

II-Other hospitals, health centres and
dispensaries-

Fiji citizens................................................. 0.20 per attendance
Others......................................................... 5.00 " "

Except in the case of-

(i) patients otherwise expected or suffering from venereal disease or such other infectious disease as may from time to time be specified by the Permanent Secretary for Health and Social Welfare* by notification in the Gazette, in which case no charge shall be made;
* See Legal Notice No. 89 of 1982.

(ii) children under the age of fifteen years of age when no charge shall be made.

(b) Charge for attendance in the special out-
patient clinic and for paying ward patients
followed-up in these clinics-

Fiji citizens.......................................... 2.00 per attendance
Others.................................................. 5.00 " "

(c) Consultants' clinics at general hospitals-a
charge not exceeding........................... 8.00 " "

Provided that-

(i) for attendance at a special out-patient
clinic or consultant's clinic if the
patient has been referred thereto
from the general out-patient clinic,
the charge shall be-

I-Colonial War Memorial Hospital,
Lautoka Hospital and Labasa Hospital:-

Fiji citizens............................................ 0.50 per attendance
Others................................................... 5.00 " "

II-Other hospitals, health centres
and dispensaries:-

Fiji Citizens......................................... 0.20 " "
Others................................................. 3.00 " "

(ii) where a patient, having been an
in-patient in the general ward of a
hospital is referred to a special out-
patient clinic or a consultant's clinic in
the hospital for follow-up purposes,
the charge shall be-

I-Colonial War Memorial Hospital,
Lautoka Hospital and Labasa
Hospital:-

Fiji Citizens................................. 0.50 per attendance
Others......................................... 5.00 " "

II-Other hospitals, health centres
and dispensaries:-

Fiji citizens.................................. 0.20 per attendance
Others......................................... 3.00 " "

(3) Operations, etc.

For any operation listed by the Permanent
Secretary for Health as-

private medical practitioner;

no charge shall be made under this item to an
in-patient of a hospital if a charge has already
been made under item (3).

(i) a minor operation-a charge not exceeding ... 30.00

(ii) an intermediate operation-a charge not
exceeding............................................................ 60.00

(iii) a major operation-a charge not exceeding 150.00

(iv) for attendance at delivery in normal labour
when the patient is in hospital .......................... 50.00

(4) For use of obstetric delivery rooms for private
patient by a private practitioner

A charge of....................................................... 50.00 per delivery

(5) Anaesthetics-

For the administration of any type of anaesthe-
tics- a charge not exceeding ........................... 100.00

Provided that-

(a) this charge shall be in addition to that specified
in item (4) when the service is provided for a
private medical practitioner;

(b) no charge shall be made under this item to an
in-patient of a hospital if a charge has already
been made under item (3).

(6) For embalming body inclusive of documentation

A charge of ...................................................... 100.00

(7) For electrocardiograph examination (E.C.G.)

A charge of........................................................... 6.00

(8) For electro-encephalograph examination

A charge of........................................................... 50.00

(9) Physiotherapy-

(a) Per attendance........................................ 1.50

(b) (i) Short-wave diathermy.................. 3.00 per treatment
(ii) Infra-red radiation........................... 3.00 " "
(iii)Ultra-sonics................................ 3.00 " "
(iv) Wax bath................................... 3.00 " "

(c) (i) Faradic and Galvanic.................. 3.00 " "
(ii) Treatment................................... 3.00 " "
(iii)Stimulation................................. 3.00 " "
(iv) Ionisation................................... 3.00 " "

(d) Ultra-violet treatment..................... 3.00 " "

(e) For the loan or supply of crutches, splints
and other appliances-a charge or deposit
not exceeding................................... 10.00

The charges laid down at (b) to (d) under this
item shall be made in respect of all patients
referred to a Physiotherapy Department by
(b) to (d) under this private medical practitioners
and from all special or consultants' clinics of a
hospital.

(10) Dental Charges-

(a) For attendance, examination and consulta-

tion (no actual treatment given)............... 1.00 first and subsequent visits.
This first visit will include simple
treatment;

(b) Exodontics (under local anaesthetics)

Extraction.............................................. 2.00 for the first tooth

Each additional tooth.......................... 1.00

(c) Conservative Dentistry-

Sedative dressing (for relief of pain)......... 1.00

Amalgam 1 surface (e.g. Cl. I)............... 3.00

Amalgam 2 surface (e.g. Cl. II).............. 4.00

Amalgam 3 surface (e.g. MO. D.D) ........ 5.00

Amalgam Multi-surface with pins............ 8.00

Silicate filling............................................ 5.00

(c) Composites-resin.............................. 8.00

Gold Inlays Cl. III................................ 10.00

Gold Inlays Cl. IV................................ 15.00

Gold Inlays ¾ Crown............................. 20.00

The cost of the gold used shall be charged in

addition;

(e) Oral Surgery-

Removal of impacted tooth cysts................. 5.00

Removal of roots and apisectomy................ 3.00

(Cost of X-ray to be in addition to above

charges)

Fracture fixation-simple............................. 20.00

Fracture fixation-complication................... 30.00

(f) Endodontics-(Pulp treatment of the tooth)

Anterior tooth-root fillings........................... 8.00

Pulpotomy-(additional charge for X-ray) 3.00

(g) Prosthetics-F/F Dentures .................................. 60.00

1 tooth partial denture................................. 10.00

Each additional tooth................................... 2.00

Repair full dentures..................................... 6.00

Rebase full dentures .................................... 10.00

Reline full dentures...................................... 6.00

Adjustments per visit................................... 1.00;

(h) Dental Radiography-

1 film.......................................................... 2.00

Each extra film........................................... 1.00;

(i) Periodontics-

Gingivectomy, flap, surgery, miscellaneous

periodontal................................................. 10.00

Surgery (e.g. gingivoplasty)...................... 2.50

Occusal equilibrium................................... 5.00

Scaling and polishing-

Complex.................................................... 24.00

Simple........................................................ 3.00

Pericoronities, periodontal absences.......... 1.00

(j) Orthodontics-

Multiband therapy........................................ 100.00

Removal appliance therapy.......................... 20.00

(These charges are exclusively for Ortho-

dontics Treatment)

(k) General Anaesthetics-

(Charge for extraction are additional to

above)............................................................ 25.00

(l) Miscellaneous treatment-

e.g. dry sockets............................................. 1.00

Control of haemorrhage............................... 1.00

Subject to the provisions of regulation 33,
dental charges shall not apply in the case of
a child who has not reached his fifteenth
birthday, in which case no charge shall be
made except for prosthetics and orthodontics

(11) X-Ray Examinations:

Charges not exceeding the following:- $ c

Adult
Lung fields
(i) Immigration, Insurance, Pre-
employment ........................................................... 10.00
(ii) Others................................................................. 8.00
Abdomen................................................................ 10.00
Oesophagus............................................................ 10.00
Stomach and duodenum with or without screening 30.00
Stomach and duodenum and follow-through of all
bowel examination............................................... 36.00
Barium studies (small bowel series).................... 30.00
Barium enema...................................................... 36.00
Graham's tests (cholecystography-oral)............... 20.00
Plain gall bladder examination............................. 10.00
Choleangiography-direct operation or post-
operation............................................................... 20.00
Choleangiography-intravenous............................. 30.00
Choleangiography-percutaneous
transheptic............................................................. 36.00
Choleangiography-drip infusion........................... 30.00
Foreign body in the eye (special method Sweet's or
other)..................................................................... 15.00
Foreign body-localisation..................................... 10.00
Radiographic examination of breasts ................... 10.00
Pregnant uterus...................................................... 10.00
Pelvimetry.............................................................. 20.00
Serial angiocardiography (rapid cassette changing)
each series require administration of anaethe-
tics.......................................................................... 40.00
Discography-one side............................................. 20.00
Encephalography.................................................... 36.00
Cerebral angiography-both sides-Administra-
tion of anaesthetics additional ................................ 40.00
Cerebral ventriculography (administration of
anaesthetics additional)........................................... 30.00
Hysterosalpingraphy (administration of anaesthe-
tics additional)......................................................... 40.00
Bronchography........................................................ 40.00
Arteriography-peripheral (anaesthetics addition-
al)............................................................................. 30.00
Phlebography........................................................... 30.00
Aortography (anaesthetics additional)..................... 40.00
Splenography........................................................... 30.00
Myelography............................................................ 36.00
Silography-............................................................... 20.00
Sinography............................................................... 20.00
Larynography........................................................... 20.00
Arthrography............................................................ 20.00

Children

(12) Laboratory Examination

Charges not exceeding the following:-
Test involving animal inoculations. ............
Histological examination of tissues............

Adult

Preparation of antigenous vaccines
Hb., WCC., Differential Count............................... 5.00
WCC. and Differential Count.................................. 4.00
Haemoglobin............................................................ 1.00
Haemotocrit............................................................. 1.00
Raticulocyte............................................................. 1.00
Semen analysis......................................................... 7.50
Red-cell fragility tests-............................................. 3.00
Denco-IM Test......................................................... 3.00
Lupus erythematosis................................................ 3.00
Bone marrow examination....................................... 10.00
Urine, routine chemical and microscopic examina-
tion........................................................................... 2.00
Urine culture and sensitivity.................................... 5.00
Sodium..................................................................... 2.50
Potassium................................................................. 2.00
Uric acid................................................................... 2.00
Cholesterol............................................................... 2.00
Creatinine................................................................. 2.00
Urea.......................................................................... 2.00
Blood Sugar.............................................................. 2.00
Liver function tests................................................... 7.50
Glucose tolerance tests............................................. 7.50
Serum proteins.......................................................... 7.50
Latex fixation test..................................................... 2.00
Phosphorous............................................................. 2.00
Calcium.................................................................... 2.00
Bilirubin................................................................... 2.00
S.G.O.T. (Serum Glutamic Oxeloacetic Transami-
nase)........................................................................ 2.00
S.G.P.T. (Serum Glutamic Pyruvic Transaminase) 2.00
Acid phosphatase..................................................... 2.00
Alkaline phosphatese............................................... 2.00
Serum amylase......................................................... 2.00
V.M.A. (Vanilyl Mandelic Acid) ............................ 7.50
Dilantin level........................................................... 7.50
Pregnancy test.......................................................... 7.50
Pap smear................................................................. 5.00
Blood Group and Rh. .............................................. 3.00
Coomb's test............................................................. 5.00
Full Cross-match for transfusion.............................. 5.00
P.I. (Prothrombin Index)........................................... 2.50
P.T.T.K. (Partial Thromboplastin time with
Kaolin)...................................................................... 2.50
Thrombin Clotting time............................................ 2.50
Fibrinogen Level....................................................... 2.50
T.S.T. (Full).............................................................. 5.00
Thromboplastin Generation time (Screening).......... 2.50

(13) Medical Certificate and Report

(a) For medical certificates on standard printed
hospital or dispensary forms and containing
only the standard information required by
the person.......................................................

(b) For other certificates or reports where
search and reference to records are in-
volved - initial reports...................................

(c) For subsequent certificate or report relating
to the same illness or injury ...........................

(d) For each duplicate of a certificate or report
referred to in (b) and (c) above.....................

(e) Where examinations of persons for reasons
other than illness are carried out by government
medical officers, e.g. in the case of proponents
for life insurance, candidates for non-
Government employees in respect of fitness for
duty etc., the charge shall be ................................

Provided that no such examinations will be
carried out by Government medical offic-
ers if there is a private medical practition-
er within reasonable distance and by
whom the examination could be carried
out.

(f) Ambulance charges:-

Per kilometre (outward and return) ..................

Minimum charge................................................

(14) Vaccination or inoculation (when not necess-
ary in the general interest of the public health
in Fiji)

Charges not exceeding the following:-

Smallpox per vaccination.................................

Cholera per injection.......................................

Yellow fever injection.....................................

SECOND SCHEDULE
(Regulation 20(3))
_______

FORM OF CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that ................................. (name) s/o .................... is exempt from the payment of charges in respect of treatment at a general out-patient clinic or in a public ward of a public hospital for a period of 12 months from the ........................... day of ...........................19 ...........

Dated this day of 19 .

.........................................................
District Officer or his authorised representative

Controlled by Ministry of Health

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