adminZiMA president Dr Enock Tatira said they are making headway in the negotiations and expect a new tariff agreement by 19 April.
“People should understand that a lot of things have been happening in the medical industry without control and it will take time for these things to be corrected,” Dr Tatira said.
“Our aim is to ensure that patients get treatment without paying a co-payment or at least a very minimal co-payment rather than the current scenario,” he said.
At the moment, some patients are paying co-payments almost three quarters the consultation fees because there is no agreed tariff between the two parties. The AHFoZ tariff for general practitioner’s consultation fees is US$20 while doctors had proposed US$35.
At the begining of the month, the Joint Advisory Council (JAC) chaired by Deputy Minister of Health and Child Welfare Dr Douglas Mombeshora gave the two parties a two-week ultimatum to come up with an agreed tariff or get a JAC-imposed one. Dr Mombeshora said JAC is expected to meet next week.
“We hope they are going to come up with a common tariff when we meet them next week. The altimatum we had given them expired last week,” Dr Mombeshora said.
He said all service providers are compelled to accept cards from all the other societies because they have proven that they are paying their arrears.
Online Reporter