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Mukudzei Chingwere in Victoria Falls
THE Government is keen for private sector buy-in as it forges ahead with a comprehensive health services delivery strategy meant to improve quality in both private and public health facilities.
These sentiments were expressed by Vice President and Minister of Health and Child Care Dr Constantino Chiwenga at the 2022 Association of Health Care Funders of Zimbabwe (AHFoZ) All Stakeholders’ Conference on Health.
In a speech read on his behalf by Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care Dr John Mangwiro, VP Chiwenga said Government was prioritising health sector facilities renovations and re-equipping, with a view to make Zimbabwe a preferred health services tourism destination while also cutting on outward bound trips.
“Government wishes to see quality services in public sector facilities and good outcomes,” said VP Chiwenga. “Our country should be a preferred destination for healthcare services or inbound medical tourism, as well as reverse the outward bound trips for healthcare services.
“This is why renovating and re-equipping is a priority area for which we keenly invite the private sector to be part of.”
VP Chiwenga said Government was working on improving healthcare services offered by the public sector facilities.
“In the spirit of Public Private Partnerships, I however wish to ask medical aid societies to continue supporting the government, especially through maintenance of high value equipment instead of duplicating these by buying similar equipment which is only available in the private sector,” he said.
“The government will put in place the appropriate framework for the Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) schemes. Government is working on creating a robust PPPs framework to enhance an effective corporate culture.”
Zimbabwe’s restructured health services seeks to leave no one behind by ensuring everyone has access to quality services as set out by President Mnangagwa.
VP Chiwenga said a lot of progress had been recorded in improving the country’s health system, but noted that areas like maternal health should be recording 100 percent success.
Government, said the VP, envisaged a situation where the country’s health delivery improved to eradicate all maternal deaths.
He decried the increasingly rampant practice where medical insurance subscribers were made to pay for shortfalls at the point of service delivery and noted that Government will liaise with the funders to see how this can be corrected.
Association of Healthcare Funders of Zimbabwe chief executive, Ms Shylet Sanyanga, concurred with VP Chiwenga’s concern shortfalls.
She said the shortfalls should not be barriers to access health services, thus should be eliminated or be at the very minimum.
Speaking at the same conference, World Health Organisation (WHO) country representative Dr Alex Gasasira commended Zimbabwe’s efforts to ensure affordable access to quality care.
“The theme for this conference, ‘Healthcare ecosystem: Time to redesign’ could not have been more timely as we collectively reflect on how we can do better to achieve our collective goal of increasing access to affordable quality services for the people,” he said.
Dr Gasasira commended local health interventions aimed at not only responding to diseases, but also working on prevention.
Online Reporter
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