ZLHR raps new medical tariffs

Paidamoyo Chipunza Senior Reporter
Government should take measures that ensure accessibility and affordability of healthcare services to all citizens through pro-poor policing and legislation, the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights has said.
Speaking to journalists in Harare yesterday on the new medical tariffs approved by Government recently, ZLHR programme manager Mr Dzimbabwe Chimbwa said access to health services should not be confined to the affluent.

He said Government should reverse its decision as it worsened existing inequalities in healthcare access while widening the gap between private and public healthcare sectors.

“Most Zimbabweans cannot afford the new fees gazetted. This is worsened by the fact that the new fees are not matched by any general increase in income for the generality of the population,” said Mr Chimbwa.

“Invariably, the cost will be passed onto the patients whose lives and health are placed in further jeopardy by this arbitrary increase on healthcare costs,” he said.
Defending the increases recently, Health and Child Care Deputy Minister Dr Paul Chimedza said the private healthcare sector is meant for private services and anyone who cannot afford should make use of public institutions.

“We are not utilising the private sector out of choice, it is the only sector where services are still available. The public sector is actually referring patients to these private institutions citing numerous challenges. It is, therefore, surprising that our leadership speaks as if they are out of touch with reality,” said a Harare man.