MP says medical aid societies that cannot pay doctors should ship out

As I started my prayer was also that immediately we need to establish a road disaster medical fund so that everybody, irrespective of age, gender or creed who is involved in a road traffic accident can and must be catered for by this money. I am alive to the fact that if you remit about US$72m per year, 5% of that goes to ZIMRA which ZIMRA was not getting before we implemented the system or before we brought before your Committee the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development to make sure they enforce the collection of the 12.5% in terms of remittances to Traffic Safety Council. ZIMRA was not getting that 5% which translates to about US$3m. That is a windfall that comes as a result of computerisation using ICT gadgets for effective enforcement of the Act.

I make a clarion call that if there is a problem remitting the monies to the doctors that would have provided services, let us indulge in the same computerisation mechanism so that we do not have a challenge for those that would be needing medical cover in the event that they are involved in road carnage or they are ailing because of cancer and other ailments.

I need to give you a brief on the cost of medical operations here in Zimbabwe. I had two of my relatives undergo operation on their legs and some implants given to alleviate their plight in their legs. The operations cost nothing below US$3500. They are going to cost the same amount to remove those implants or the plugs that were planted in those knees and legs. What this means is that because of the economic problems that are currently bedeviling this country, we cannot optimally pay for such services using cash. What it means is that we are paying for these services in advance using medical aid remittances and payments.

What we need is the medical aid societies to shape up or ship out because if they do not pay, they are mortgaging the future of this country. The people that are paid for in terms of medical services and medical insurance range from those that have not been born to those that are old. We are putting the nation at risk by making sure that we are not optimally utilising this medical aid system for the betterment of the health of our nation.

As I conclude, I need to make a prayer that the Minister needs to come in and make a public pronouncement or give a Ministerial Statement to allay the fears because information is power and I shudder to think what my grandmother in Gokwe is thinking about now when she hears over the radio or through media that there is no more allowance or receipt for the medical aid cards. Information is key and there is no publicity which is bad publicity. Let us engage the media so that we inform the elderly people wherever they are that the medical aid facilities are still functional. I thank you.

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