adminSukoluhle Ndlovu Midlands Correspondent
ABOUT $1,7 million owed to Gweru Provincial Hospital by patients and medical aid societies is crippling operations at the institution. The hospital’s medical superintendent, Dr Fabian Mashingaidze, told The Sunday News last week that topping group debtors was PSMAS. He said as a result of the ballooning debt, operations at the medical institution had been affected. He said they were finding it difficult to provide critical services.
“Initially the debt stood at $1,1 million as at September 2014 and has increased to the current $1,7 million. This is money owed to us by individual patients and those coming through the medical aid societies who accessed our services with promises of settling their medical bills later on. This is now resulting in us failing to re-tool things like medical supplies and other equipment. PSMAS owes us $500 000 and we still accept their clients in the hope that they settle their debt soon,” said Dr Mashingaidze.
As a result of the ballooning debt, Dr Mashingaidze said they had engaged the services of a debt collector.
He said before engaging the debt collectors, the hospital sends text messages to the patients as a way of reminding them to pay up their debts.
“The services of debt collectors are yielding positive results as many are now forthcoming for fear of having their valuables attached.”
In terms of drugs availability at the institution, Dr Mashingaidze said they had 41,5 percent of vital drugs, 29,3 percent of essential drugs and 5 percent of necessary drugs.
“Vital drugs are those that must be there always in case of emergency while essential drugs are not as critical as vital and necessary drugs are supposed to be there but if they are out of stock, there is no harm to the patient,” he said.
Bongani Ndlovu