Vice President Constantino Chiwenga on Monday said the government will no longer provide foreign currency for senior government officials who seek medical treatment abroad.
Chiwenga bemoaned the huge amounts of foreign currency being spent by cabinet ministers and other senior government officials when they visit state-of-the-art health facilities abroad for medical care.
Speaking to reporters at his New Munhumutapa government offices, Chiwenga, who doubles as Health Minister and Deputy President, said:
We will not export our patients. We will not make referrals to our patients. It is everybody, ministers. Those who have been going out it is you and me. Is it not it? Altogether but that export bill was too high and that is what we want to do away with.
Zimbabwe has a national medical bill that is high. It is, therefore, imperative that the country develops a method of containing the import bill through health care innovations for import substitution.
Ironically, senior government officials including President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his two vice-presidents, Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi have in the last few years travelled outside the country to receive treatment.
Chiwenga had been to India, South Africa and China since last year for treatment and medical check-ups.