Tshinga Dube on corrupt doctors

Dumisani Nsingo, Senior Reporter
AN investigation carried out by Makokoba Constituency’s health committee has unearthed high levels of gross misconduct and corruption where doctors at Mpilo Hospital are referring patients seeking “special” medical attention to their private surgeries.

Speaking at the constituency’s development meeting yesterday, the Member of Parliament for Makokoba and Deputy Minister of Welfare Services for War Veterans, Collaborators and former Political Detainees Retired Colonel Tshinga Dube said the damning report by the committee reveals a number of anomalies but the most shocking one exposed the unethical conduct by medical practitioners at the country’s second biggest institution.

“The report that we got from our health committee revealed many problems bedevilling Mpilo but the one which was shattering was the discovery that most doctors both juniors and seniors are operating private surgeries where patients suffering from different ailments are clandestinely referred to for further medical attention,” Rtd Col Dube said.

He said through this well-orchestrated scam doctors fleece desperate patients by charging them exorbitant fees as payment for rendering them medical services.

He said the exorbitant medical fees demanded by the doctors have resulted in many patients seeking medical attention outside the country.

“We appreciate the fact that doctors are saying they are not well paid but that doesn’t mean they should compromise their ethics . . . it’s high time we pursued the Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr David Parirenyatwa to come and embark on a thorough fact finding mission because the health delivery system at Mpilo has completely collapsed,” Rtd Col Dube said.