Legislators unite to condemn doctors’ demand for cash from medical aid patients

Maridadi also said the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority, which contributes almost all of the government revenue, would be short-changed once doctors start accepting cash only because they would dodge paying taxes.

“When medical doctors are paid through medical aid societies, it is easier for ZIMRA to trace tax because there is a paper trail.  However, when medical doctors are paid cash, it might be difficult for ZIMRA to trace their tax because there is no paper trail.  I walk into a surgery today, and medical doctor A charges me $60 for consultation and maybe $200 for his service and might choose not to give me a receipt.  So, ZIMRA might not be able to trace that.

“Most importantly is that when there is a problem between the medical insurance company and the medical doctor, it is not a member of the public or the medical aid society who should suffer.  Why should ordinary people suffer?  The person who must suffer is either the company that is deducting money from the employee, which is not remitting to the medical aid society or the medical aid society which is not collecting its money from the employees.  The person who is contributing money has nothing to do with the relationship between the medical doctor and the medical aid society.”

HON. MARIDADI:  Mr. Speaker, earlier on, I moved for adjournment of the House which has now happened in terms of Standing Order No. 59 (1) to discuss a definite matter of urgent public importance relating to the announcement  by the Zimbabwe Medical  Association (ZIMA) that starting July 1, 2016, their members will not be accepting patients on medical aid insurance.

Mr. Speaker, let me start this debate by saying that the Constitution of Zimbabwe is one of the most progressive in the region if not in Africa for two reasons.  It has a section on Fundamental Human Rights.  One of the rights that are listed there is the right to life under Section 48 and the right to health care under Section 76.

This morning Mr. Speaker, when I came to Parliament, I met Hon. Chipato who is having a problem with her eyes.  She said that she would want to get spectacles but she has been told to wait until next month.  What it means is that she is not able to get the spectacles next month because medical doctors will not be accepting medical insurance.  Mr. Speaker, here are the facts of the matter.  Zimbabwe has 36 medical aid societies. Of the 36, Premier Medical Aid Society is the biggest; there are about 1.2 million Zimbabweans on medical insurance.  Premier Service Medical Aid Society caters for 874 000 of those members, so the remainder about 400 000 are distributed amongst the remaining 35 medical aid societies.

Mr. Speaker, Cellmed Medical Aid Society, their cheapest rate is about US$14 per month for individuals.  Their most expensive is US$321 dollars a month for individuals.  What it means is that on an average, they make about US$150 per person.  If you look at 1.2 million people and you look at the average amount that is paid by members to the various medical aid societies, what it means is that medical insurance in general is a very lucrative business.  Medical insurance in particular, on an average, medical aid societies in Zimbabwe should be making about 70 to 80 million dollars on a monthly basis from contributions of members.

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