Patients denied treatment as medical aid saga rages on

The Government had given the medical aid societies until February to clear arrears with service providers for them to be issued with the operating licences.

A survey in Harare showed that patients were being asked to pay cash, as service providers expressed fear over the fate of the medical aid schemes that are operating without licences.
GreenCard Medical Aid Society said all service providers had stopped serving their members since Monday.

“Today, following the public statement by the Deputy Minister (of Health and Child Welfare Dr Douglas Mombeshora) almost all service providers except RMC Hospital have blocked serving Greencard members,” said the medical society’s chief executive officer Mr Simon Tapfumaneyi.
“Greencard members who had paid for March 2013 are demanding refunds due to lack of access to service caused by the Deputy Minister’s public statements.”

Dr Mombeshora released the names of the 11 medical aid societies that failed to comply with the regulations on Tuesday and urged them to make “acceptable” payment plans.
Sovereign Health chief executive officer Mr Mudiwa Mundawarara of Generation Health said their members were also being turned away.

The medical aid society has since been issued with the 2013 operating licence after clearing its dues.
Patients interviewed said that service providers were now demanding cash.
One of the affected members from Chitungwiza said he ended up paying a US$50 consultation fee on Wednesday midnight when his son suddenly got ill. He said when he arrived at the Manyame 24-hour Clinic in the suburb, staff at the reception told him that his medical aid society risked losing its licence after it was among the 11 that had failed to clear arrears.

“They told us since our society is among the 11 defiant societies and they might fail to get their reimbursement should the Government decides to revoke its licensure,” he said.
Some of the service providers said they were not sure if the 11 “defiant” societies would be able to get their licences.

Zimbabwe Medical Association president Dr Enock Tatira urged the service providers to remain calm and wait for official communication on the way forward. He said Zima was representing service providers in the Joint Advisory Council and if there were any developments, information would be disseminated through all members.