Secretary-general of the Zimbabwe Hospitals Doctors Association (ZHDA), Dr Mthabisi Anele Bhebhe, has called for the enactment of a patriotic law that will make it compulsory for senior government officials to seek for local medical care for health conditions that can be treated locally.
Dr Bhebhe made he comments on Twitter following reports that Foreign Affairs Minister, Sibusiso Moyo, is currently admitted at a South African hospital. Wrote Dr Bhebhe:
That’s the height of hypocrisy. You run down the health system, fire doctors and fly to neighbouring countries to get treatment. Shameful!
Another patriotic bill must be enacted to prohibit high up government officials from seeking medical care in foreign countries for conditions that can be treated locally. We need to admit one of these bosses in our public hospitals.
The government recently fired hundreds of doctors for failing to report for duty after they declared incapacitation.
The firing of the doctors has not improved heath delivery in hospitals but has actually made the situation worse, with citizens failing to access basic medical care while senior government officials routinely fly to countries such as China, India, South Africa and Singapore for treatment.