Mliswa says PSMAS has let him and his 19 children down, Chiwenga says those with many children have to pay more

Independent legislator Temba Mliswa this week asked Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga, who is also Minister of Health, what the government was doing about the closure of the Premier Service Medical Aid Society since people were still contributing.

“Right now when we are sick, where do we go? It is an emergency issue and our families are on PSMAS. I have 19 children and their medical aid is on PSMAS and if one of them is sick, what do I do now when we are in this situation? This is a service that we have already paid for,” Mliswa asked.

Chiwenga said he had directed the permanent secretary of health and the staff to open all PSMAS institutions which had closed down.  

“We are putting medicines into those institutions so that our people get attended to.  The issue of what should be done now, it is a matter which we will be discussing with the Ministry of Finance, the regulator and all stakeholders concerned, to say in the meantime, whilst the investigations are going on, we want the services because people will not stop to be sick.  Therefore, they have to be attended to.”

The Vice-President, however, said people had to pay for the service and those with many children had to pay more.

“I am happy that Hon. Mliswa said that he has got 19 kids.  If you have got 19 kids and you pay $40 for 19 kids, how do they get treated?  So, these were some of the issues which we are saying if we have got the money, it has to be a maximum.  

“If you want to have many kids, in fact I want Members to get this right.  Because the population has got to balance, we have got to have children but if you are to have children, you must be able to support them.  The way you support them is, you increase your contributions.  The Government pays 80% and the member only pays 20%. That 20% had become meaningless.” 

Full debate:

HON. T. MLISWA: I have a point of order in terms of PSMAS which has been closed and Hon. Members are all subscribed to PSMAS to support Government. Right now when we are sick, where do we go? It is an emergency issue and our families are on PSMAS. I have 19 children and their medical aid is on PSMAS and if one of them is sick, what do I do now when we are in this situation? This is a service that we have already paid for. Clarity is sought from you Vice President and Minister of Health on PSMAS which has closed. Where can Members of Parliament go to when they are sick when they have already paid medical aid which is being deducted?

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