Doctors: ‘High costs choking us’

Doctors want medical aid societies to pay gazetted consultation fees to ensure health service providers remain viable, Zimbabwe Medical Association (Zima) secretary-general Dr Shingi Bopoto has said.

He said most medical practitioners were struggling to pay rentals, annual licence fees and utility bills. “Generally, doctors are not making much money from consultation fees due to the high cost of living and economic situation. We have to consider rentals which get up to US$6 000 per month in the Central Business District and are lower in the outskirts. Utility bills are also high compared to other Sadc countries.

“In addition, all medical institutions have to pay City Health Department, Health Professions Authority as well as Medical and Dental Practitioners’ Council licence fees annually,” he said.

Dr Bopoto said a number of medical aid societies owed doctors some funds stretching back to 2009.

He said Zima — before the latest gazette — wanted an initial consultation fee of US$50. “Back in 2009, medical aid societies just woke up and imposed a US$20 consultation fee. Ever since, we have been engaging on the negotiating table, but nothing fruitful has come out of it.

“We know that they have, since dollarisation, increased contributors’ tariffs at least four times. They didn’t consider service providers and are declaring insolvency now that we are demanding the gazetted fee.”