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PSMI rescues war vets, collaborators

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THOUSANDS of war veterans and ex-detainees in the country are set to get medical aid cover following talks between the War Veterans ministry and Premier Service Medical Investments (PSMI).

THOUSANDS of war veterans and ex-detainees in the country are set to get medical aid cover following talks between the War Veterans ministry and Premier Service Medical Investments (PSMI).

Own Correspondent

Speaking after discussions with PSMI group managing director Farai Muchena and other senior executives at the PSMI renal unit in Harare on Monday, permanent secretary in the ministry Retired Brigadier-General Asher Walter Tapfumaneyi said former freedom fighters were struggling to get basic health care.

He said war veterans had plans to build two 264-bed hospitals in Harare and Victoria Falls and wanted to learn how PSMI was operating its renal centre.

Tapfumaneyi said currently war veterans, war collaborators, ex-detainees and former restrictees were using their own funds to get medical care and later claim their money from the ministry, a situation which he said was untenable.

He said war veterans were experiencing more age-related health challenges and needed the attention of doctors more frequently.

“We want to get medical care under one roof and as close to where we reside as possible throughout the country. This is where PSMI comes in with its widely spread medical facilities and its good quality hospitals and clinics across the country,” Tapfumaneyi said.

Tapfumaneyi revealed that there were more than 30 000 war veterans and 8 000 ex-restrictees as well as about 200 000 war collaborators.

Muchena said PSMI looked forward to partnering war veterans.

He said the company was prepared to assist the war veterans realise their dream of operating their own health facilities Muchena said on its part, PSMI would soon have a fully-fledged renal care centre that not only does dialysis but also have capacity to do kidney transplants.

“We have challenges like certain health policies and the legal framework in the country which needs to be revised to accommodate organ donations and transplants. On the other hand, we also have to overcome cultural challenges wherein one has to donate a living organ,” Muchena said.

He said high-tech equipment was required and PSMI was looking at engaging partners to establish such a project.

PSMI group operations director Tafadzwa Gutu said specialists such as urologists and nephrologists were currently being sent to India for training.