adminNqobile Tshili Chronicle Correspondent
THE Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare has appointed four arbitrators to restore stability at the Premier Service Medical Aid Society (PSMAS).
The Deputy Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Tapiwanashe Matangaidze, told the National Assembly on Wednesday that independent arbitrators had been appointed to look into the PSMAS problems.
Zanu-PF MP for Muzarabani South Cde Christopher Chitindi had asked the Deputy Minister what the government was doing to ensure there was transparency and stability at PSMAS.
There have been corruption and abuse of funds allegations made against past and present PSMAS managers.
PSMAS members are now forking out cash when they visit service providers after the society instructed them to demand cash upfront as part of a strategy to avoid further litigation.
The society is also being sued by service providers for defaulting on settling claims. The Deputy Minister said measures were being taken to normalise the situation at the medical insurer.
“As we speak, there has been some intervention where four arbitrators have been appointed to give some stability to PSMAS. It’s in our best interest that PSMAS runs smoothly and we all look forward to that,” said Matangaidze.
He said the move to take Ministers to court over PSMAS issues was retrogressive.
“Currently, we find that there are people who are taking government Ministers to court; it’s rather negative and retrogressive. I think people should allow due process to happen and clearly there will be stability at PSMAS,” Matangaidze said.
Last week, a PSMAS subscriber, Emmanuel Javane Mwale, from Bulawayo, sued the Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr David Parirenyatwa and the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Prisca Mupfumira, for allegedly interfering in decisions made by the PSMAS board of directors.
Matangaidze said PSMAS is government’s “baby” therefore it was inevitable for Ministers to be involved in its matters.
“Currently, we’ve nine board members there, three are appointed by the government; three are elected by the civil service and three are elected at an AGM of PSMAS. Clearly from that, you’ll see that six out of the nine are falling directly under the government. So the government’s fiduciary responsibility there can’t be overlooked. Yes, the government has a clear interest in the running of PSMAS,” he said.
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