News / National
'Free access health care for vulnerable groups'
30 Dec 2017 at 17:35hrs | Views
The Ministry of Health and Child Care has sent out circulars to all government run health institutions instructing that high risk groups should be exempted from paying user fees.
On the first of July in 2012, the government introduced a policy where children aged five and under, maternal cases and the elderly aged 65 and above were no longer expected to pay user fees when they visit a government health facility.
However, most hospitals failed to adhere to the policy and cases of mothers being detained after delivering continued to be reported despite the government directive eversince.
A new order has been announced in a circular dated 29 December 2017 and sent out to all health facilities including those being run by local authorities, indicating that all forms of payment have been scrapped for the high risk groups.
"Children under five years of age, pregnant women and senior citizens over 65 years are not supposed to pay consultation fees, card fees or administration costs," reads part of the circular.
Zimbabweans have received the news with joy but urged government to ensure that this time around, all hospitals will fully adhere to the policy.
In a telephone interview, Minister of Health and Child Care Dr David Parirenyatwa said all state run health facilities will be monitored to ensure that they are taking heed of the directive to scrap user fees.
Dr Parirenyatwa said the development is part of the ministry's 100 day plan to ensure access to quality health care for all citizens.
First Lady Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa recently went around some government hospitals assessing how the medical personnel relate with patients, checking on the general maintenance of the health facilities as well as getting first hand information on the challenges that the hospitals are facing.
On the first of July in 2012, the government introduced a policy where children aged five and under, maternal cases and the elderly aged 65 and above were no longer expected to pay user fees when they visit a government health facility.
However, most hospitals failed to adhere to the policy and cases of mothers being detained after delivering continued to be reported despite the government directive eversince.
A new order has been announced in a circular dated 29 December 2017 and sent out to all health facilities including those being run by local authorities, indicating that all forms of payment have been scrapped for the high risk groups.
"Children under five years of age, pregnant women and senior citizens over 65 years are not supposed to pay consultation fees, card fees or administration costs," reads part of the circular.
Zimbabweans have received the news with joy but urged government to ensure that this time around, all hospitals will fully adhere to the policy.
In a telephone interview, Minister of Health and Child Care Dr David Parirenyatwa said all state run health facilities will be monitored to ensure that they are taking heed of the directive to scrap user fees.
Dr Parirenyatwa said the development is part of the ministry's 100 day plan to ensure access to quality health care for all citizens.
First Lady Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa recently went around some government hospitals assessing how the medical personnel relate with patients, checking on the general maintenance of the health facilities as well as getting first hand information on the challenges that the hospitals are facing.
Source - zbc
