CASH-STRAPPED Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo has engaged debt collectors to recover over $8 million owed by patients.
NQOBILE BHEBHE
The city’s largest referral hospital has already started inviting law firms offering debt collection services to submit bids for the exercise amid reports that the health institution was also considering scaling down on some of its services due to the cash crunch.
“Tenders are invited from legal firms with debt collection services to collect amounts owed by the hospital clientele,” read a notice flighted in a local newspaper yesterday.
Mpilo hospital chief executive officer Lawrence Mantiziba told NewsDay yesterday that the hospital had adopted a tough stance on debtors to avoid collapse of the health institution.
“We are owed $8 million across all departments and we need funds to stay afloat. Therefore we are seeking to engage a debt collector to recover the funds,” Mantiziba said.
