The Zimbabwe Medical Association (Zima) has threatened to mobilise members not to accept medical aid societies which are not complying to set regulations.
By Phyllis Mbanje
In a communication to members, Zima — an association of public and private sector medical practitioners — said the profession had been “badly let down” by regulators on the issue of medical aid society.
Most of the medical aid societies, particularly Premier Service Medical Aid Society (PSMAS), have not been paying service providers, while others like CIMAS have disputed the gazetted fees.
The association blamed the weak regulatory framework.
“The minister had issued an ultimatum to all medical aid societies that are non-compliant with SI 35 of 2004 (which stipulates the maximum period within which claims are to be settled) and SI 159 of 2014 to comply by February 28 2015 or lose their licences, but went ahead and licensed them,” read part of the letter distributed last month.
Zima said this would obviously encourage the medical aid societies to continue behaving in a delinquent way. The impasse between the doctors and the medical aid societies has remained unresolved for three years. As part of its other options, the association has also threatened to make an urgent application to the high court to compel the government (through the of Health and Child Care ministry) to implement all regulations and policies on medical aid societies.
“We will petition the Office of the President and Cabinet to compel the minister to act on the non-compliance by medical aid societies,” said the Zima letter.
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Some service providers feel their plight has gone unheeded for too long and yet their families are suffering. “We are in a very serious financial crisis as we face suppliers that we owe,” one pharmacy owner said. “We also owe rentals and salaries due to this. We are also facing litigation at courts from various companies that we owe.
“Most suppliers have already closed our accounts due to payment delays hence making it difficult for us to restock and offer an efficient health service delivery.
