Former health minister blames government for running down country's health system

Gutu South MP and former deputy health minister Paul Chimedza has blamed the government for creating a crisis in the health system. Chimedza blamed the government for incapacitating hospitals and pharmacies by not remitting contributions which are always deducted from the salaries of civil servants. Addressing Public Service minister Prisca Mupfumira, in parliament, Chimedza said:

Money is deducted from civil servants’ salaries every month for their medical aid,

From the last time we checked, most of the money had not been remitted. Public Service Medical Aid Society is owed almost $90 million by Government.

As a result, service providers to Public Service are owed over a $150 million. Hospitals and pharmacies have been closed and laboratories are struggling.

We are losing jobs in that sector and we are creating jobs for Indians. People are now moving to India because we are starving our own system with the money that we owe.

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When are we going to settle the bill for Premier Service Medical Aid Society so that we capacitate them to pay service providers and then we bring our private health system up to scratch?

Mupfumira blamed the current liquidity challenges for the situation and said that she would consult with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development.

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