Health minister Obadiah Moyo has disclosed that the country
is losing about $400 million annually on overseas medical treatments.
Moyo made the disclosure in Nyanga, while officially
opening the second annual general meeting and conference of Private Hospitals
Association of Zimbabwe.
“Having our own up to standard facilities will make wonders
and no-one will be airlifted out of the country for health treatment and I have
shared this with the President,” Moyo said.
Government and ruling Zanu PF party officials have largely
bled the country by flying out to seek medical treatment overseas, running away
from local health institutions that have been run down through neglet over the
years.
Former President Robert Mugabe and incumbent President
Emmerson Mnangagwa, his deputies Constantino Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi as well
as top government officials have in recent months been receiving treatment
outside the country. Mugabe made several trips to Singapore during and after
his 37-year rule and Chiwenga is currently in China for medical treatment after
initially visiting India and South Africa.
The $400 million the country is losing annually is adequate
to renovate and equip several public health institutions.
In his address, Moyo ordered private hospital operators to
stop charging in US dollars and abide with government policy of using local
currency for the benefit of every Zimbabwean.
Moyo said punitive measures would be taken on hospitals
that continue to charge in US dollars.
“Charging in US dollars is illegal and it is an act of
corruption which is there to disadvantage the people of Zimbabwe. As
government, let me set the record straight, it is illegal, and no one is above
the law, action will be taken,” Moyo said.
“There are a lot of health institutions that are
mushrooming, registered and unregistered . . . and most of those small
hospitals are the ones illegally charging US dollars, but the law will surely
catch up with them” he added. Newsday
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