adminPaidamoyo Chipunza Health Reporter
Embattled Premier Service Medical Aid Society has finally been granted a licence to operate, but with conditions following the resignation of the society’s board of directors last Friday.
Although the licence issue did not affect PSMAS members from seeking health services, the society’s bankers and other stakeholders were beginning to lose confidence in dealing with an unlicensed entity.
Upon issuance of the licence on Tuesday, PSMAS was ordered to provide Government with information on its claims status on a monthly basis, debt recovery strategies and details of administration and other expenses.
The society would also be meeting the regulator on a monthly basis to provide progress updates.
PSMAS acting group chief executive Dr Farai Muchena said the society was excited about the new developments and described the conditions as normal.
“We are not worried because for us those conditions are really normal. It is not something that we cannot provide,” said Dr Muchena.
Dr Muchena said the licence would enable the society to follow up on monies it is owed by its creditors and be able to settle claims among other debts for the society.
He said PSMAS has also made payment plans with other service providers to ensure its debt is cleared.
PSMAS got its licence barely 24 hours after Health and Child Care Minister David Parirenyatwa promised to give the society its operating licence.
Medical aid societies renew their operating licences at the beginning of each year.
The renewal is subject to the society’s financial soundness and its ability to stick to regulations governing operations of medical aid societies, chief among them being able to settle claims within 60 days.
As at December 31, PSMAS owed service providers about US$38 million but this debt has since been reduced.
Government is pushing for all health funders to settle claims within the stipulated timeframes so that no service provider denies treatment to a patient with a valid medical aid card.
Most patients on medical aid card were being asked to pay cash as providers argue that their societies took time to settle claims.
On the other hand, medical aid societies claim that costs of medical care in Zimbabwe were beyond the reach of many.
Government is however yet to gazette medical tariffs.
Online Reporter