Private Hospitals have suspended the 20% fee increase announced last month, it has been learnt.

REPORT BY KUPAKWASHE MAKONYE OWN CORRESPONDENT

This followed a directive by the Health and Child Welfare ministry to suspend the 20% tariff increase.

The Private Hospital Association of Zimbabwe (PHAZ) and the Association of Health Care Funders of Zimbabwe were ordered to come up with a tariff that was acceptable to both parties, failure of which the government would impose a new fee structure this month.

The parties would now meet next Wednesday to try and find common ground.

A senior PHAZ official at a private clinic in Harare yesterday confirmed the move to suspend the tariff increase pending consutlations.

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“We obviously followed the directive from the ministry (Health) and we suspended the 20% fee increase that had been added. This was done as of two weeks ago,” the official said.

Consultation fees at private hospitals had risen to $50, up from $40 against $10 charged at public health institutions. Private doctors charge a minimum of $20 for consultation, which varies from surgery to surgery.

The government approves fees charged by private health institutions through the Medical Services Act (1998) and Statutory Instrument SI35 of 2004 to register and de-register health institutions that do not follow instructions.