Story by Abigirl Tembo, Health Editor
PRIVATE hospitals and health institutions will no longer be allowed to turn away patients requiring life-saving emergency treatment, regardless of their ability to pay, following amendments to the Medical Services Act gazetted by Government this Tuesday.
The amendments introduce a legally binding obligation requiring all private health institutions to admit and provide emergency treatment to patients with life-threatening conditions for a minimum of 48 hours to stabilise them before any transfer to another facility.
The requirement applies even where patients are unable to meet the cost of treatment, reinforcing Government’s commitment to ensuring that no one is denied emergency medical care because of financial constraints.
The amended law also empowers the Minister of Health and Child Care to direct private health institutions to provide specialist services to emergency patients referred from the public health sector during public health crises or other emergencies.
Private institutions will be entitled to recover the costs of treatment through agreements with either the State or the patients receiving the services.
The legislation introduces stiff penalties for institutions that fail to comply.
Heads of private health institutions, or medical practitioners acting without the necessary authority, who refuse to admit patients requiring emergency care may face a Level 8 fine, imprisonment for up to one year, or both.
Government says the amendments are expected to improve access to emergency medical services, reduce preventable deaths and strengthen collaboration between the public and private health sectors during periods of increased demand.
The reforms form part of broader efforts to expand access to quality healthcare and ensure that every Zimbabwean receives life-saving treatment when it is needed most.
