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Ruth Butaumocho African Agenda
Covid-19 continues to be the greatest threat to humankind, probably the biggest peril since the end of World War II in 1945.
To date, more than 700 000 people have lost their lives, while thousands of new infections continue to hit the globe at a phenomenal speed daily.
It is through such difficult times that many private local health services providers are using the crisis as an excuse to squeeze every cent they can from the already struggling and desperate patients under the guise of providing a service.
Instead of complementing Government’s efforts in curbing the further spread of Covid-19, several private health operators seem to be working against Government’s efforts to end the crisis that has had consequential effects.
Several private service providers are shamelessly profiteering from this pandemic by unnecessarily increasing prices of medication related to Covid-19 and insisting on testing for Covid-19, not as a safeguarding measure, but merely lining their pockets at a time, the nation is reeling from the effects of the pandemic.
Most private health centres now require patients to undergo a Covid-19 test before they can access medical services.
While testing is a recommended practice to safeguard health personnel at any medical centre, what is disturbing is that some of the centres are not testing to ascertain the status of the patient, which they will know once the results are out, but merely to beef up their coffers.
Treatment is immediately availed once one has paid for testing fees in foreign currency, and well before the results come out.
Recently, a relative was rushed to a 24-hour private centre in Chitungwiza’s suburb of St Mary’s after she started having diarrhoea. When they got to the centre, the guardian was asked to fork out US$30 for a Covid-19 test, before she could receive treatment.
The receptionist explained that the doctor will only attend to a patient who had been tested for Covid-19.
On further inquiry into whether the patient would need to wait for the results before she would be treated, the guardian was assured that treatment would start as soon as she had been tested for Covid-19.
Desperate to have her treated, the guardian paid US$30 for the test. The health personnel took her blood samples, and informed the guardian that her results would be ready in 48 hours.
Meanwhile, the young girl was immediately taken to the doctor’s consultation room for treatment.
Such manipulative behaviour is not only confined to some private health centres, but even pharmacies that have increased prices for medication and accessories related to Covid-19.
Prices for drugs like hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine, Vitamin C supplements and sanitisers with a high-alcohol content have suddenly gone out, amid growing concerns of pharmacies lining up their pockets unnecessarily during a crisis.
The same is also happening with several private laboratories, who have since hiked their testing charges and are reportedly demanding the payments in foreign currency for the polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
The private sector can still play a recommendable role in complementing Government’s efforts in fighting Covid-19.
When the pandemic started all tests were initially done by the Government, and anyone who tested positive was shifted to a Government hospital for isolation and treatment.
However, as the number of cases increased, it entailed the significant involvement of the private sector, which was a commendable effort.
It now appears that not every private health provider has been sincere and honest in ensuring an end to Covid-19. Instead of regarding it as a tragedy, some private health providers are now using the pandemic to make money.
Such business ethics are regrettable and should not be allowed to continue. Already President Mnangagwa has since promised to root out rogue businesspeople who want to ride on the suffering of people to make their profits.
Marking the 40th anniversary of Heroes Day, early this week, President Mnangagwa said his Government will relentlessly pursue corruption.
“Informed by a cardinal ethos during the liberation struggle, the Second Republic’s thrust in the fight against corruption is unwavering.
My administration therefore makes no apologies for fixing our systems across the socio-economic and political spectrum. Accountability and transparency will keep on being enforced in every facet of our society. The door to the old manner of doing things is closed.
“The corrupt way is shut and those who choose that route will face dire consequences.”
We believe business people who were licensed to provide health services by the Health Professions Council were registered based on a number of considerations, one of them being their willingness to provide a service not for financial gain.
Also guided by the Hippocratic Oath which seeks to protect and uphold the life of a patient, there is no basis for health providers to disregard all the tenets of their profession — a unique sector for that matter — for financial gain.
Health is a national priority.
The private sector, which has also been instrumental in complementing Government’s effort, is an important stakeholder in ensuring that health for all becomes a reality.
Five months after the country went into lockdown, one of the Government’s priority is to flatten the curve and to ensure that all patients are well cared for.
In that endeavour, the private healthcare still has a responsibility to assist Government’s efforts and also assist the vulnerable instead of lining up their pockets.
Online Reporter