Online Reporter
GOVERNMENT has finally approved the long awaited Road Accident Fund (RAF) Bill paving the way for the establishment of the fund meant to assist accident victims and their families.
The fund mooted many years ago is in line with the United Nations Decade of Road Safety action plan.
In his post-Cabinet briefing on Tuesday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere said the fund is meant to fill the glaring gaps in Zimbabwe’s accident response framework as the existing insurance packages lack provisions for immediate evacuation of accident survivors to medical facilities.
He said the fund will therefore address these shortcomings by ensuring swift access to treatment and long term rehabilitation of victims.
“Emergency services providers are reluctant to provide medical services in instances when payment for the service is not guaranteed.
The current liability cover is inadequate to cover medical and funeral expenses,” said Dr Muswere.
He said the Road Accident Fund will place greater focus on enhanced responsiveness to post crash emergencies to improve the ability of health and related systems to offer appropriate emergency treatment and long term rehabilitation for accident victims.
Zimbabwe is one of the few Sadc countries yet to establish such a fund. It has been noted that one of the major challenges of the post-crash phase is the delays in securing rescue ambulances to get the injured to hospital hence the importance of establishing the accident fund.
The organisations providing emergency rescue services have made it clear that they need to recover costs for them to remain operational hence some of them are reluctant to respond to accidents as fast as they should unless payment is guaranteed.
The Road Accident Fund which will be funded from Motor Vehicle Insurance premiums and any other such funds will enable emergency service providers and medical institutions to respond swiftly to accidents, thereby saving lives.
The establishment of the accident fund, in our view, is long overdue given that many Sadc countries already have such a fund in place.
Emergency rescue service providers and medical institutions, as already stated, should be guaranteed payment. The fund apart from paying for such services, would assist families of accident victims.
There are many cases of people injured in accidents who have died after failing to raise money to undergo specialist treatment and the fund will address such shortcomings. The fund is envisioned to function as a social safety net, offering financial support for rehabilitation and compensation to the injured and their families.
