Parliament takes Zimbabwe health Minister to task- full Q & A

My observation is that there are certain issues that had to be looked at first and we are already polishing-up the document as we speak so that we come up with a very good document. We are coming up with a document that will not make us take up to 15 before implementation of the programme. My plea Mr. Speaker Sir is that when the document is now in place and they come to Parliament, we quickly scrutinise it and agree so that it is implemented earlier. Let us agree today that universal health coverage is important and a necessity. It is a necessity that we all access free medical health care in the country. It is a good thing that you have responded but unfortunately at the moment, I am not in a position to commit in giving you the time lines. I will not want to be found to have misled this House and I cannot readily say it will take three (3) or six (6) months but I urge you to be patient. You will hear from us as to how far we will have gone and if it is possible Mr. Speaker Sir, we would come here and give you the milestones and indicate how far we have will reached this position unlike what used to be done in the past where something would happen ten years or fifteen years down the line.

My plea is that, please hear me out well and be patient with me. I will be honest to inform you on progress. I will come back and give you progress or the lack of it. I thank you.

THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Member, you had raised a point of clarification and we will have the last supplementary from Hon. P. D. Sibanda.

*HON. MUTSEYAMI: Thank you Mr. Speaker. I would want the Hon. Minister to clarify a certain point. When we were at the Pre-Budget Seminar, it emerged that pharmacies were charging their products in United States dollars but today you have said it is an offence for pharmacies to charge in United States dollars. If you go to the pharmacies next door here and there, you will find out that medicines are being charged in United States dollars. We should not just come here and speak what the ordinary people want to hear and seven (7) days down the line, what have you done to ensure that pharmacies are charging people in bond notes? I thank you.

* HON. DR. O. MOYO: Mr. Speaker Sir, I thank you {HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjection.] –

THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, may the Hon. Minister be heard in silence please.

*HON. DR. O. MOYO: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I am grateful for your question which is also a reminder and yes, we spoke about it. We said we were going to carry out an investigation and we said that while we were in Bulawayo. What I would want to reiterate is that we are looking for ways and means to correct that anomaly.

THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order. Hon. Minister when you answer please address the Chair and do not worry about people who are distracting you. Thank you and please carry on – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] –

*HON. DR. O. MOYO: Hon. Speaker Sir, this is an issue which we are looking at. Yes we indicated when we were in Bulawayo and it has to be finalised, I totally agree. We are going to finalise the matter and I will be consulting with the Minister of Justice and the Minister of Finance. After that, we will give you the proper answer.

Continued next page

(345 VIEWS)