Dear Editor,

I am writing to share a recent experience at a private hospital. I have chosen not to disclose the name of the institution, not out of fear, but out of a desire to highlight a broader issue that affects many Jamaicans who seek urgent medical care.

I recently experienced a medical emergency. My first instinct was to visit a local clinic, but after waiting for an extended period without being seen, I sought help at a nearby private doctor’s office. Upon examination, the doctor immediately advised that my condition was serious and that I should go straight to a hospital. Acting on that advice, I went to a private hospital.

After conducting blood tests I was informed that I needed to be admitted for approximately one week. At that point, I was given an estimate for the hospital costs. However, I was also told that the doctor’s fees would be separate — without any clear indication of what those costs would be. Given the urgency of my condition and the well-known challenges of overcrowding and bed shortages in public hospitals, I made the difficult decision to remain at the private facility.

My health insurance helped significantly in covering part of the hospital expenses. However, about five days into my stay, I was presented with the doctor’s fees — I was both shocked and deeply concerned.

I was charged an admission consultation fee of $35,000, followed by a $25,000 fee for each visit thereafter. These visits often consisted of brief check-ins — simple questions about how I was feeling, and occasionally listening to my chest with a stethoscope. While I respect the expertise and time of medical professionals, I struggled to understand how such brief interactions could justify such high charges.

In contrast, I observed that the nurses — who checked my vital signs multiple times per day, managed IVs, monitored my output, and provided continuous care — seemed to bear the bulk of the day-to-day workload.

When I became aware of these costs, I asked whether I could be seen by a more affordable doctor. My understanding is that Accident and Emergency (A&E) consultations typically cost far less, and even specialist consultations in private offices are usually in the range of $15,000. Yet I was paying $25,000 per visit without being given alternatives or advised of the cost beforehand.

I now find myself facing an out-of-pocket bill of approximately $210,000.

This experience raises several troubling questions:

1) Why are patients not given full transparency about doctors’ fees upfront?

2) Why are there no options to choose more affordable care within the same institution?

3) Why are patients in vulnerable and urgent situations effectively locked into high-cost arrangements without clear alternatives?

Globally, concerns about rising health-care costs and lack of transparency are well documented. Reports from organisations, such as the World Health Organization, have highlighted how high out-of-pocket expenses can push individuals into financial hardship, even in middle-income countries. Similarly, studies across the Caribbean have pointed to gaps in regulation and cost standardisation in private health-care systems, leaving patients exposed to unpredictable billing practices.

Jamaica is not immune to these challenges. While private health care plays an essential role in easing the burden on the public system, there must be safeguards to ensure fairness, transparency, and accountability.

I am, therefore, calling on the relevant authorities — particularly the Ministry of Health and Wellness — to consider stronger regulatory measures for private health-care billing. These could include:

• mandatory disclosure of all fees upfront

• standardised or capped consultation fees within hospitals

• greater patient choice in selecting attending physicians

• clear billing breakdowns before and during treatment

Health care should not become a financial trap for those seeking urgent care. Patients deserve clarity, fairness, and the ability to make informed decisions, especially when their health is at risk.

I share this not out of bitterness, but in the hope that it sparks meaningful discussion and leads to improvements that will benefit all Jamaicans.

Arthur Allen

m.arthur.allen@outlook.com