Passengers Association of Zimbabwe has expressed
displeasure over the treatment of accident victims at Parirenyatwa Group of
Hospitals after an accident during celebrations over former president Robert
Mugabe’s resignation.
The association said it witnessed victims not being
attended to as they did not have the required money to cover their medical
bills.
However, the hospital — in response to questions sent by
the Daily News — said the policy of the hospital was to treat every case and
then claim the money later, as they invited the association to a meeting for
dialogue on how the processes work.
The accident involving a kombi and an Isuzu twin cab
occurred at the corner of Samora Machel Avenue and Leopold Takawira Street. One
person died while 11 were injured.
“We, as Passengers Association of Zimbabwe, believe that
victims of road accidents should get all the medical assistance they need as a
matter of urgency, including x-rays and medication, whether they or their
relatives have the immediate financial capacity to pay for medical services,”
the association said in a statement.
“People cannot suffer or die because they do not have the
finances. No one foresees a road accident, which is why it is an accident and
government hospitals should prioritise saving lives and reducing the suffering
of accident victims.
“We visited the accident victims at Parirenyatwa Hospital.
When we got there just after the accident, victims were being asked to buy
medication. Those who did not have money to buy medication started phoning
their relatives for assistance.”
The hospital’s public relations department said the
statement by the association showed lack of appreciation to hospital
procedures, hence the need for dialogue.
“We have noted that concerns may have arisen due to lack of
appreciation of how the system works.
“The hospital has arranged a meeting with the Passenger
Association of Zimbabwe to clarify the issues and listen to their concerns,”
the public relations department said in written responses.
“Parirenyatwa Hospital Group treats all accident victims
without the requirement of payment upfront.
“Accident victims are attended to as emergencies and
payments are claimed from the respective insurance companies after patients are
attended to.”
“Where the victims are not covered by insurance, the
hospital attends to them immediately and they will be given their bills
afterwards.
“The fact that some insurance companies owe the hospital
substantial amounts of money is clear indication that accident victims are
being treated before making payments.
“In this particular case, and as usual, all the victims of
the accident were attended to without any payment and those who had soft tissue
injuries were immediately discharged and given prescriptions to buy medicines
after x-rays were done on them and reviewed by the doctors.” Daily News
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