High medical fees cause for concern

Leonard Ncube Victoria Falls Reporter
ZIMBABWEANS, mostly those living along the country’s borders seek treatment in neighbouring countries because of the high cost of health services locally. This emerged at the Association of Healthcare Funders of Zimbabwe (AHFoZ) conference which ended here yesterday. Responding to concerns on medical tourism during the conference, the chairperson of Private Hospitals of Zimbabwe Merissa Kambani said the situation was worrying.

“The issue of medical tourism where patients go beyond borders to join medical aid cover and seek treatment when we have a viable health sector is really worrying,” she said. “We blame the cost of healthcare but I have a problem with that because these countries’ economies are better. So we shouldn’t ignore the state of our economy. I want to believe that medical aid societies are not charging to make profits but should start thinking business.”

The conference expressed concern over exorbitant fees charged by medical aid societies and healthcare providers in the country which are not affordable to ordinary citizens.

“Many Zimbabweans now go to neighbouring countries such as Botswana, South Africa and Zambia to seek medical treatment. They join medical insurance in those countries and even those on chronic illness go there for check-ups and treatment. Are we not losing out as a country?” one participant asked.

Another said people preferred to seek medical services in neighbouring countries because it was way cheaper than locally, as monthly contributions in Botswana, for example, range from P150 to P500.

AHFoZ chief executive officer Shylet Sanyanga told The Chronicle that people mostly in Matabeleland region were seeking services elsewhere because of the proximity to Botswana and South Africa. “Yes we’re aware that people in Matabeleland especially in Beitbridge and Plumtree subscribe for medical insurance in neighbouring countries. The reason is that they get better treatment there compared to locally where healthcare cost is higher,” said Sanyanga.

She said there were differences in pricing where the same drug may cost between $4 and $80 in different pharmacies while general practitioner consultation fees range between $5 and $50.

The chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health Dr Ruth Labode told the conference that efforts were needed to deal with the of cost of healthcare and corruption. AHFoZ was formed in 1969 and has 27 members and three affiliates servicing 1.3 million of the country’s 14 million population.