PSMAS managing director, Dr Nixjoen Mapesa, confirmed the
resignation of Dr Bvirindi, in a letter written on Tuesday to the regulator
seen by this publication.
The day he resigned, thousands of public servants were
stopped by their co-ordinator from demonstrating against the careworn medical
society, to pave way for the outcome of the forensic audit which started last
week. Public servants are not happy that their medical aid has been deemed
‘useless’ despite them being fully paid up members, and were willing to protest
against the poor administration at PSMAS.
“This letter serves to advise that Dr J Bvirindi resigned
from the PSMAS Board with effect from 8 July 2022,” reads part of the letter
written by Dr Mapesa.
“In terms of Clause 12.2 of the PSMAS Board Terms of
Reference, once the Chairman’s position becomes vacant, the Vice Chairman of the
Board takes over the Chairmanship up to the next Annual General Meeting.
“It is upon this premise that Mrs Fatima Kokerai Chauruka
is now the PSMAS Chairman up to the next Annual General Meeting,” reads part of
the letter by Dr Mapesa.
Meanwhile, on the same day Dr Mapesa wrote a letter to the
regulator, he received his letter as well from the Zimbabwe Confederation of
Public Sector Trade Unions (ZCPSTU), notifying him of the appointment of Mr
Enock Dongo to the PSMAS board.
The letter seen by the Herald, addressed to Dr Mapesa in
his capacity as the principal officer, was written by Mrs Cecilia Alexander.
“This serves to notify you of the appointment of Mr Enock
Dongo to the Premier Services Medical Aid Society board as a secondment from
labour,” reads part of the letter.
“This follows the recent resignation of Dr Jeremiah
Bvirindi from the same board. We stand to be advised by your office
accordingly.”
Civil servants have been complaining that PSMAS has failed
its members who are automatically up to date with their remittances, but in
some cases see their medical aid being turned away by healthcare service
providers who say the time taken for payment is far too long.
Some of the problems have been laid at the feet of senior
management and board members, who are reportedly mooting diversification into
other areas such as mining and insurance, a flagrant disregard of the entity’s
founding objectives, and who have also introduced co-payments.
The position has caused the regulator of medical aid
societies, who can act in any medical aid society since they all have to be
registered, to order a forensic audit at PSMAS – a detailed audit that looks
beyond just whether the accounts balance and looks at issues such as the actual
management. Herald
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