Story by Abigirl Tembo, Health Editor
ZIMBABWE’S push to reform the medical aid sector is gathering momentum following a high-level stakeholder engagement held in Harare this Wednesday, aimed at laying the groundwork for far-reaching changes to improve fairness, transparency and patient protection.
At the centre of discussions is the proposed amendment to Statutory Instrument 330 of 2000, which seeks to separate medical aid societies from direct service provision in order to eliminate potential conflicts of interest.
Lawmakers said the dialogue was critical in aligning competing interests while safeguarding both patients and players within the healthcare sector.
Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health and Child Care, Dr Descent Bajila, said the reforms have come at an opportune time but require deeper engagement to ensure balance.
“This dialogue was absolutely necessary. We were able to hear the views of healthcare funders in full, as well as those of medical practitioners. The statutory instrument is timely, but engagements must be deepened to ensure that subscribers are not short-changed and that businesses are not negatively affected. At the same time, the integrity of practices within the health sector must be protected,” he said.
Dr Bajila also underscored the need for a transparent pricing framework.
“The central issue is the need to establish a national framework for scientifically determined tariffs. At present, there is no clear mechanism for how service costs are determined. Subscribers access services at private clinics, private hospitals, and even in the public sector without understanding how these costs are arrived at.
“It is therefore important that, if institutions responsible for determining such costs have collapsed, they should be revived. If there is a need to reconstitute or redesign them, then that should be done. Ultimately, the focus must be on the health of every Zimbabwean. This should be the priority for Parliament, healthcare funders and medical practitioners alike,” he added.
Meanwhile, medical aid societies have raised concerns over the proposed changes.
Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Health Funders of Zimbabwe, Ms Shylet Sanyanga, said that while reform may be necessary, the current approach could be too drastic.
“We believe there is a need for Government to allow the Association of Health Funders of Zimbabwe, as the industry representative, to be part of the solution. This could result in a less disruptive approach.
“The proposed statutory instruments, which require network societies to disinvest from service provision, risk depriving members of alternative access to quality healthcare. These facilities have been providing viable options for patients and supporting the healthcare system. While intervention may be necessary, this approach is extreme and could dismantle a system that is currently functioning. Rebuilding such a system would not be easy,” she said.
However, independent practitioners have welcomed the proposed amendments, describing them as long overdue.
“As independent practitioners, we support the Ministry’s efforts. There has been a longstanding need for stronger regulation in the medical aid sector. This amendment is a progressive step towards addressing these challenges,” said medical practitioner, Dr Marlon Nyakabao.
Despite differing views, there is growing consensus on the need for reform, with stakeholders agreeing that continued dialogue will be crucial in developing a system that balances affordability, access and quality.
The engagement is being viewed as a pivotal moment in Zimbabwe’s healthcare transformation, as the country moves towards building a more accountable, competitive and patient-centred system.
