There are, at times, a situation where a patient at the
hospital has been discharged, but they are unable to pay the total bill. When this occurs, the patient must remain at
the hospital until the total amount has been paid (there are no collection
agencies or other forms of making sure the bill is paid). The patient is not part of hospital
management in regard to medications and treatment.
Recently there was a female patient with her one month old
twins with her, who had been discharged for over a week, but has no money to
pay her total bill which is about $100 or 62,000CFA.
One day a male nurse, Gilbert, thought of an idea to help
our patient which at the same time will help the twins’ health primarily. He
suggested that the staff in our clinical ward contribute an amount on our
comfort, with the total goal of 80,000CFA. Most of us welcomed his idea and even the
cardiac center administration contributed. Before I knew it the patient was
able to go home with her twins.
With this, I have witnessed an act of mercy in our cardiac
center.
