Dr Owen Mugurungi, Director for HIV/Aids and TB has directed councils to approach his ministry when they are faced with people who cannot pay.
The issue of user fees, regarded as one of the stumbling blocks towards Zimbabwe realizing key Millennium Development Goals on universal access to health, has resulted in many people failing to access medical services because they do not have money – with hospitals and clinics demanding cash up front.
At least eight women die daily while giving birth while 100 children below five die daily. According to UNICEF, most of these die at home since they do not have money to go to hospital.
“We need to make sure that we do not punish people who cannot afford to pay since they do not have the money,” said Mungurungi.
“Local authorities are still getting money from the government and we do not know if they have more challenges. If that is the case then such councils should approach the government and then we seek ways through which we will stop punishing the people of Zimbabwe,” said Mugurungi.
But council officials say government must come up with money, and not just talk.
“We are charging user fees because we must meet the costs. The government used to provide us with special grants, but that is no longer the case, as they claim that they do not have the money,” said a senior health official from the City of Harare, who asked not be named.
User fees vary but the majority of hospitals in the country’s southern regions have scrapped the prohibitive fees and Harare is currently the highest in terms of charges – with fees of $30.
Post published in: Health