Minister blasts extortionist medical health tariffs

GOVERNMENT’S proposed National Health Insurance (NHI) is expected to flush out extortionist tariffs by some greedy medical health practitioners and service providers while enhancing the protection of ordinary citizens who cannot afford to pay exorbitant charges.

About 10,8 percent of Zimbabwe’s population is said to be covered by medical aid schemes and most are asked to top up cash in shortfalls.

Officiating at the Association of Healthcare Funders of Zimbabwe (AHFoZ) 2024 annual stakeholders conference on health in Victoria Falls yesterday, Health and Child Care Minister, Dr Douglas Mombeshora, said several policies are being worked on to regulate the health sector and address overcharging, shortfalls and fraud.

He said principles for the Bill on National Health Insurance (NHI) were submitted to Cabinet while the Medicines and Allied Substance Act, Health Professions Act and the Medical Aid Societies Bill were being amended as the Government further reviews some health legislation to better respond to challenges and trends.

“It’s imperative that all players align their efforts towards achieving measurable results. Government fully understands that the realm of health is dynamic and ever-evolving,” said the Minister.

“Financing of healthcare systems has become a global challenge, especially to low-income countries like ours.

Zimbabwe is working hard to institute reforms that are designed to increase domestic funding for health.

“One key reform that has been on the agenda for a long time but is being accelerated now is the establishment of a National Health Insurance Scheme,” said Dr Mombeshora.

He said the Government was reviewing some health legislation to better respond to challenges and trends of the day. A critical feature of this amendment is the provisions allowing regulation of medical devices by MCAZ.

“The Medical Aid Societies Bill is on the agenda and key reforms include the establishment of regulatory authority, review of capital and investment modalities, among other issues,” said Dr Mombeshora.

He said the Government is committed to collaborating with all stakeholders in the healthcare supply chain and riding on the synergies for homemade solutions for our universal health coverage.

The discussion was opened by AHFoZ chief executive, Mrs Shylet Sanyanga, who expressed concern about shortfalls as a result of overcharging by service providers.

In response, Dr Mombeshora lashed out at extortionist tendencies and said the Government will address the situation through the NHI, which will close the gap with excess money being used to improve infrastructure, equipment and drug supply.

“Some of the funders are there to extort money. We need to stop that and come up with policies on how health funders can be regulated,” he said.

“We have about 40 medical aids but how many are here? If they were genuine, they should be here, it’s not supposed to be a money-making business but a social service.

“We made a mistake of allowing health funders to be service providers. They spend money and do not consider service. We are looking at policy change and as Government, we are there to protect the public and not rip them off,” said Dr Mombeshora.

“We are not saying medical aid societies should close. The National Health Insurance will cover those that seek services at public facilities and luxuries like cosmetic surgery will not be covered.”

The Minister urged continuous dialogue between service providers and health funders saying the Government will not force them to close but market forces will be at play. “As Government, we are not interested in shoving things down your throat. Talk to service providers, I believe some of the tariffs are too high such that medical aids fail to pay,” he said.

“We want to protect medical aids, service providers and patients at the same time and everyone should be happy.”

Dr Mombeshora referred to laboratory tests, which he said should cost six cents but are charged between US$15 and US$20.

He said the 10 percent of population cover is so small hence the need for the NHI, which is going to drive most of the small funders out of business.

Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health, Josiah Makumbe, said the country needs coverage that includes every citizen, including the unemployed.

Defending medical doctors, one practitioner accused health funders of creating the prevailing challenges.

“The problem started when medical aid societies started identifying practices they wanted to contract, which resulted in some doctors leaving practice,” he said.

“The medical aid societies then came up with the preferred provider approach and that destabilised the system. Medical aid societies, you call us greedy doctors yet you are the mischief makers. You have destroyed general practice by interfering. You open pharmacies and this results in you not being able to control fraud. Your behaviour has disrupted the system.”

The conference is being held under the theme “Zooming in on Health Outcomes – Making the Main Thing the Main Thing” and ends today. – @ncubeleon.