News / Local
Mpilo Hospital warned over debt collectors
19 Mar 2015 at 04:20hrs | Views
THE MDC-T Bulawayo provincial leadership has warned the Mpilo Hospital to desist from engaging debt collectors to reign on defaulting patients saying the move will be a violation of the people's right to health services.
MDC-T deputy spokesperson for Bulawayo Felix Magalela Mafa Sibanda said Mpilo Hospital administration must be told that citizens have a right to health services as enshrined in the constitution under chapter 4 which is the declaration of rights section 76.
"It says every citizen and resident of Zimbabwe has a right to access health care services including reproductive health services. The same Chapter says no person shall be refused health care services. It is therefore criminal to refuse patients health care services through lies by these health institutions," he said.
"We are at variance with the health institutions when they purport to charge 20% of the commission of debt collectors."
Mafa Sibanda said Zimbabweans were poor due to economic situation and must not be forced to pay for health services.
"Recommended international any commission that exceeds 2 and a half percent or five percent is altravires the constitution and medical ethics," said Mafa Sibanda.
"Mpilo Hospital has a history of embezzling public funds. We have heard that drugs have been smuggled out of the hospital, assets have been stripped without any recourse, so to hide behind clientele that they are owing, it is not here or there because Mpilo Hospital has been controversial since time immemorial."
Mafa Sibanda said the sad developments associated with hospitals come at a time when the Zanu-PF government made promises during the 2013 elections which have never been fulfilled to date.
"There is now a dilemma and dichotomy between Zanu-PF members and reality. The people were told they will have free medical care to which they are now facing legal debt collectors, health care is a fundamental right to be catered for by the state," he said.
"We urge the Ministry of health to intervene sooner or later as the move by Mpilo can cause un told suffering for the Bulawayo residents. Failure to pay by patients is not because they do not want to but is because
of the economic challenges rocking the nation."
He said Mpilo must put its house in order and become accountable and serve the people not its administration interests.
"We want to appreciate that patients and government must meet half way in the health delivery system but currently majority of people have no money due to economic situation and the move by Mpilo will force people to die at their homes or seek traditional and faith healers where they are at times duped. Debt collectors issue is deterent to patients from attending hospitals."
Mpilo Central Hospital last week advertised for the legal institution to bid for tender for debt collecting on behalf of the health institution amid indications it is owed close to $10 million in medical bills by patients.
In a notice yesterday, the hospital invited tenders for debt collection services.
"Tenders are invited from legal firms with debt collection services to collect amounts owed by the hospital clientele," the hospital said.
Debt collectors are expected to charge the defaulting clients a 20% administration fee, which will be retained as payment on remitting the collected owed amount.
"(Debt collectors) should have their own transport and personnel to work with," the notice reads.
"(They must) maintain the register book for debtors who shall be checked by the hospital accountant or any delegated accounting officer."
The notice advises the prospective debt collectors to work hand in hand with the Dunning team, a debtors' group, and declare all money paid by the debtors to the hospital.
The notice states that the debt collectors should compile debtors' reconciliation statements at the end of each month and report to the finance director.
To qualify, the prospective bidders are expected to have certificates of incorporation, bank statements, a valid vendor number, while remittance to the hospital should be in US dollars.
The prospective bidders should have a precise plan on how debt collection activities will be undertaken, proof of payment of tender fee, proof of registration from the law society, company profile, curriculum vitae of directors or partners and traceable references.
As at December last year, Mpilo was reportedly owed more than $10 million by patients, a development that left the health institution struggling to purchase drugs and food for those hospitalised.
However, it appears the debt has been escalating instead of being reduced amid plans by the hospital to engage debt collectors to force its clientele to pay.
MDC-T deputy spokesperson for Bulawayo Felix Magalela Mafa Sibanda said Mpilo Hospital administration must be told that citizens have a right to health services as enshrined in the constitution under chapter 4 which is the declaration of rights section 76.
"It says every citizen and resident of Zimbabwe has a right to access health care services including reproductive health services. The same Chapter says no person shall be refused health care services. It is therefore criminal to refuse patients health care services through lies by these health institutions," he said.
"We are at variance with the health institutions when they purport to charge 20% of the commission of debt collectors."
Mafa Sibanda said Zimbabweans were poor due to economic situation and must not be forced to pay for health services.
"Recommended international any commission that exceeds 2 and a half percent or five percent is altravires the constitution and medical ethics," said Mafa Sibanda.
"Mpilo Hospital has a history of embezzling public funds. We have heard that drugs have been smuggled out of the hospital, assets have been stripped without any recourse, so to hide behind clientele that they are owing, it is not here or there because Mpilo Hospital has been controversial since time immemorial."
Mafa Sibanda said the sad developments associated with hospitals come at a time when the Zanu-PF government made promises during the 2013 elections which have never been fulfilled to date.
"There is now a dilemma and dichotomy between Zanu-PF members and reality. The people were told they will have free medical care to which they are now facing legal debt collectors, health care is a fundamental right to be catered for by the state," he said.
"We urge the Ministry of health to intervene sooner or later as the move by Mpilo can cause un told suffering for the Bulawayo residents. Failure to pay by patients is not because they do not want to but is because
of the economic challenges rocking the nation."
He said Mpilo must put its house in order and become accountable and serve the people not its administration interests.
"We want to appreciate that patients and government must meet half way in the health delivery system but currently majority of people have no money due to economic situation and the move by Mpilo will force people to die at their homes or seek traditional and faith healers where they are at times duped. Debt collectors issue is deterent to patients from attending hospitals."
Mpilo Central Hospital last week advertised for the legal institution to bid for tender for debt collecting on behalf of the health institution amid indications it is owed close to $10 million in medical bills by patients.
In a notice yesterday, the hospital invited tenders for debt collection services.
"Tenders are invited from legal firms with debt collection services to collect amounts owed by the hospital clientele," the hospital said.
Debt collectors are expected to charge the defaulting clients a 20% administration fee, which will be retained as payment on remitting the collected owed amount.
"(Debt collectors) should have their own transport and personnel to work with," the notice reads.
"(They must) maintain the register book for debtors who shall be checked by the hospital accountant or any delegated accounting officer."
The notice advises the prospective debt collectors to work hand in hand with the Dunning team, a debtors' group, and declare all money paid by the debtors to the hospital.
The notice states that the debt collectors should compile debtors' reconciliation statements at the end of each month and report to the finance director.
To qualify, the prospective bidders are expected to have certificates of incorporation, bank statements, a valid vendor number, while remittance to the hospital should be in US dollars.
The prospective bidders should have a precise plan on how debt collection activities will be undertaken, proof of payment of tender fee, proof of registration from the law society, company profile, curriculum vitae of directors or partners and traceable references.
As at December last year, Mpilo was reportedly owed more than $10 million by patients, a development that left the health institution struggling to purchase drugs and food for those hospitalised.
However, it appears the debt has been escalating instead of being reduced amid plans by the hospital to engage debt collectors to force its clientele to pay.
Source - Byo24News
