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Health
Minister blocks private clinics from hiking fees
ZimOnline
March 31, 2006
http://www.zimonline.co.za/headdetail.asp?ID=11893
HARARE - Zimbabwe
Health Minister David Parirenyatwa has blocked private hospitals
and doctors, the only remaining sources of decent health care in
the country, from hiking fees.
The hospitals
had earlier this month said they would hike consultation and admission
fees, which currently stand at Z$5 million and $60 million respectively,
by 50 percent while other charges would be increased by 100 percent.
Private doctors also wanted to increase fees by 50 percent from
the present $2.9 million.
But at a stormy
meeting held in Harare on Wednesday which was attended by doctors,
representatives of private clinics and medical aid societies, Parirenyatwa
ordered a freeze on the proposed increases and set up a new committee
to look into the matter.
Parirenyatwa,
himself a medical doctor, has in the past accused private health
institutions and practitioners of charging unjustifiably high fees
that in many cases were several hundred times more than the fees
charged at government-run hospitals which for example require patients
to pay only $10 000 for consultation.
"He (Parirenyatwa)
said he was using powers vested in him under the Medical Services
Act but this is dangerous because it kills the thriving private
health sector.
"The government
wants us to charge unsustainable rates, the same rates that destroyed
the public health sector," said a doctor who refused to be named
for fear of victimisation.
President of
the Zimbabwe Medical Association (Zima) that represents doctors,
Billy Rigava, refused to shed more light on what transpired during
the meeting.
"I can confirm
the meeting took place but for details talk to the minister himself,"
said Rigava.
Contacted for
comment, Parirenyatwa denied unilaterally blocking the tariff increases.
"We all agreed
on freezing the tariffs until the committee we set up comes up with
agreeable figures. It was no unilateral declaration as they (doctors)
claim," said Parirenyatwa.
Health experts
say the freeze on fee hikes will impact negatively on private clinics,
that have been helping fill the gap created by the collapse of the
state's under-funded and mismanaged hospitals. - ZimOnline
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