Private hospitals irked by new tax regime

KABUL (SW): Hundreds of doctors and paramedics associated with private hospitals in Kabul and Balkh on Sunday held a protest demonstration against the ‘inflated’ taxes imposed on them by the government.

Faredon Gharman, head of the private hospitals’ association, said on the occasion in Kabul that they have shared their concerns with the Wolesi Jirga (lower house) and the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), but to no avail. He charged that the Ministry of Finance (MoF) has even imposed up to AFN 600,000 worth of tax on hospitals that have a total financial worth of less than AFN 500,000.

The private hospitals' association chief charged the MoF of discrimination, and not collecting a single penny from hospitals owned by influential people.

Dr. Zarghnoa Mehdi, owner of the Mehdi Hospital in Kabul, said on the occasion that the MoF is harassing the private hospitals. She warned private hospitals would shut down its operations if the government failed to address their concerns.

In conversation with Salam Watandar, a number of Kabul citizens, however, charged the private hospitals of exploiting the vulnerabilities of the needy people. Hammed, one such resident, said many hospitals are involved in over-invoicing and exploiting the patients financially.

We wished to have the views of the MoF, but repeated calls were not responded.

ENDS