The ManicaPost
Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
MUTARE residents have applauded the Medical Services Amendment Bill, which if gazetted into law will make it mandatory for private medical institutions to attend to patients with emergency cases without demanding payment upfront.
The institutions will also be required to keep the patients for at least 48 hours for stabilisation purposes, before transferring them to a Government hospital.
This was highlighted at Sakubva Beit Hall last week during Mutare’s public hearing on the Medical Services Amendment Bill.
The hearing was chaired by Muzarabani South Constituency Member of Parliament, Honourable Tapera Saizi, who is also a member of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health and Child Care.
Clause Eight of the Bill provides for the admission of any person requiring emergency treatment at a private institution.
The cost will be met by the patient or in consultation with the Minister of Health and Child and Government after treatment.
Participants welcomed the amendment saying it will help save lives.
However, they went on to call upon Government to create competition for private medical service providers by upgrading public hospitals.
“A person’s life is important and it should be saved at all costs. We welcome that amendment because a lot of people were dying as they were far away from public hospitals and did not have money to pay for services rendered at their nearest private clinics,” said Ms Ruvheneko Nyatwa.
Another participant, Mr Clayton Marapira, said public hospitals need to be upgraded.
“We are glad that Government has been working tirelessly to upgrade our public hospitals. Public hospitals should be able to provide the same services offered by institutions,” he said.
In an interview, Hon Saizi said the Bill seeks to align the Medical Services Act with the Constitution.
“If signed into law, the Bill will obligate private health institutions to admit patients who need emergency treatment for life-threatening conditions and to keep them for at least 48 hours for stabilisation purposes. Most people are welcoming it. Our mandate is to take what people say to Parliament.
Inclusion is part of Government’s values.
“It is important to note that part of the amendments state that it is unlawful for any parent or guardian of a child to prevent him or her from receiving any health service which is in the best interests of the child concerned, or to withhold consent for any health service in contravention of Section 60 (3) of the Constitution.
“Any person who contravenes this provision shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding Level Eight or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year or to both the fine and the imprisonment,” he said.
Hon Saizi said the amendment will help to ensure that children from apostolic sects whose doctrine denies them access to health services are not denied medical attention.
Another provision in the new Bill states that the Minister of Health and Child Care may request a private health institution to make its specialist facilities available to patients who need emergency treatment that cannot be provided at Government institutions where they would have been admitted.
If gazetted, the new law will also offer incentives to individuals or organisations who build private hospitals and clinics in rural areas as this seeks to bridge the gap in accessing health services.
