Health Medical Bill: CIMAS boss speaks

 Noah Kupeta

CIMAS Medical Aid Society Chief Executive Officer Vulindlela Ndlovu stressing a point during the Insurance and Pensions Journalism Mentorship Program in Harare. The Program is sponsored by IPEC, NSSA and ZimSelector.Com 

HARARE: CIMAS Medical Aid Society Chief Executive Officer Vulindlela Ndlovu has added his voice on the proposed Health Medical Bill saying private health provision remains critical in complementing public health.

Recently, government pronounced that the Medical Services Act shall be amended to pave way for the Health Medical bill which intends to bring together both private and public health institutions under the Medical Aid Societies Regulatory Authority.

Vulindlela Ndlovu said the bill should be holistic in its approach while paying particular attention to competition as the driving force if the country is to compete with international health medical facilities.

“There is a conflict of interest and the fear that members will be directed to those facilities.

“In our view the conflict of interest is “perceived”.  “Legislation limits what Medical Aid Societies (MAS)  can do with the facilities, for example, directing of members to MAS facilities is deemed anti-competitive in terms of  the Competition Act [Chapter 14:28].

“The Medical Societies Regulations themselves prohibit directing and therefore there is no conflict of interest.

“The move to ban service provision by MAS in our view is a restrictive practice as it is exclusionary and restricts the distribution of a service while also limiting the facilities available for the distribution of any service, in this instance healthcare services,” he said.

Ndlovu’s also said the law should not be selective in dealing with health issues in Zimbabwe.

The Medical Services Act states that “Subject to subsection (4), a medical aid society may invest its funds in any manner provided by its constitution or rules”. The investment in healthcare facilities managed by the Society is not expressly excluded by the Act hence not illegal.

However, Chikombedzi Mission Hospital Matron, Mrs Ruth Hlongwane said the bill is welcome as it will go a long way in complementing health provision in Zimbabwe.

She insists that private medical aid societies should partner public health institutions arguing that the primary role of all medical facilities should be to serve the patient and thereafter other considerations would then come into effect.

“MAS should be sincere in dealing with this bill because the idea is to serve the patient, of course I’m very much aware of the many costs they incur.

“MAS should embrace private public partnerships in health service provision if we are to work as a country.

“In my entire service over the last decade, here at Chikombedzi, we are faced with so many challenges some of which we expect MAS through their profits to consider corporate social responsibilities by even donating to us.

In response, CIMAS boss Vulindlela Ndlovu argues that MAS are critical in Zimbabwe in many respects, a consideration government should seriously consider.

“MAS are assisting government by providing affordable provision of medicines and consumables to communities and access to affordable healthcare.

“There is a better understanding of the costs associated with healthcare services even in the private sector as data is available to assist with appropriate pricing fundamentals.

“The purpose of the Bill should not be to “reign in” on medical aid societies but to instead proffer a platform for enhancing service delivery to members through private public partnerships (PPPs).

Chiredzi South Member of Parliament Callisto Killion Gwanetsa said sustainable development especially in marginalised communities should be based on private public partnerships.

He said the bill does not seek to scare away MAS but to complement government efforts in the provision of health.

“In Chiredzi South, I call upon MAS and other insurance companies to invest their resources in this long forgotten constituency.

“At Chikombedzi mission hospital, there are so many risks associated with under age mothers who fall prey to cross boarders in South Africa and Mozambique.

 

“At times, theft of equipment, vandalism, and other many risks which come on the basis that Chikombedzi mission hospital is in a rural set up,” he said.

 

Most public health institutions in Zimbabwe are not insured which may cost them in case of a disaster or risk that may result in injury or death.

 

An insurance expert who declined to be named on condition of anonymity said public health institutions should understand vicarious liability in their everyday operations. This means that an employer is liable for the fault of his employee in the course of duty.

 

This publication spoke to patients at Chikombedzi mission hospital who cannot be named for ethical reasons while in Chiredzi and they called upon insurance companies to partner public health institutions.

 

“Much as I understand the financial inclusion of the whole medical service, if MAS are sincere, they should come up with a pricing model that caters for some of us who cannot afford private medical care.

 

“People in this rural community cannot afford private health facilities, at least if MAS can come maybe we can get much better help,” said a patient at Chikombedzi.

 

Zimbabwe’s health sector is currently affected by shortage of foreign currency, price escalations, hyperinflationary environment, and reduction in disposable income and change in consumer behaviour patterns affecting health care decisions.

 

The public health institutions and MAS, should play a complementary role in the provision of health services in the country.