Private Health Players Vow To Maintain Better Health Care 

By Shingirai Vambe

At a time government health institutions are battling a deepening crisis ,players in the private sector have vowed to keep offering top-notch health care.

This was echoed at the just ended 2-day conference held in Victoria Falls organized by the Private Healthcare Association of Zimbabwe(PHAZ) which has since rebranded.

Addressing delegates, the Chairman of PHAZ, Timothy Goche said the rebranding was a worthy cause for the association to escalate its services and attract more players.

“The rebranding is a good cause as we now have more citizens resorting more to private health institutions than public and government facilities.

“It is also part of a new thrust to bring and incorporate more players in the health industry,”Goche said.

In a speech read on behalf of Minister of Health, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga by his deputy John Mangwiro, the minister said PHAZ need to complement government in providing healthcare.

“The relationship that is there between the ministry and PHAZ is paramount as the sector it represents, seamlessly compliments the health provision by health facilities in the public sector.

“All private hospitals should conglomerate, destroy the current fragmentation to enable availability of equipment and medicines which are hardly found in the country and the unity will even reduce fees associated with private hospitals and medical facilities.

“The ministry will support the Association and their applications of foreign currency through the ministry of finance on the auction system for buying medical and surgical consumables, medicines and equipment,” he affirmed.

Another sticking issue raised by Association of Healthcare funders of Zimbabwe (AHFoZ) represented by Shyllet Sanyanga was the medical aid co-payment and short falls which she attributed to the high inflationary environment.

This successful engagement was made possible by Avenues Clinic, New Health 263,Suburnan clinic, Old Mutual, Baines Avenues Clinic, Psmas, Citimed to mention just a few, who sponsored the event.

The conference was attended by other stakeholders that include Unigas, suppliers of medical gas, CAPESSO Pvt Ltd, Medical Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) among many others.

Amongst the guest speakers was the Economist, Pesistence Gwanyaya who spoke on the state of the economy and its effects to the health sector while Michael Sambo, a legal practitioner, spoke on the potential litigation landmines in healthcare.

Meanwhile, nurses who called off their strike are yet to have their grievances responded to by the government.