Ministry of Health and Child Welfare Strategy and Policy Development officer, Tonderai Kadzere, said the move was set to ensure that no patients would be turned away by service providers.
The resolution was made recently by the newly formed Joint Advisory Council, chaired by Health and Child Welfare Deputy Minister, Douglas Mombeshora.
“All medical aid societies with outstanding amounts to service providers were directed to pay up,” he said. “Providers with unpaid bills should compile their figures and submit for payment. If there are (constraints), let them be known. Come 2013, any medical aid society or fund with unpaid debts of over 60 days will not be fit to operate,” he added.
Kadzere said the medical aid societies had enough time to settle their bills.
“The economic situation has stabilized and there is no reason why they are failing to pay up if they are collecting subscriptions every month from members,” he said.
Kadzere said most patients were failing to access treatment after contributing to medical aid societies.
“All players have been urged to adhere to the existing regulations governing their business, which include acceptance of medical aid cards and timely reimbursement to service providers,” Kadzere said.
Zimbabwe Medical Association President, Enock Tatira, commended the move, saying most medical aid societies were failing to honor claims within the agreed 60 days.
“I think making them adhere to rules is the only way forward because we end up compromising service delivery to patients,” he said.
Some medical aid societies are reportedly facing collapse due to the late remittance of contributions, low subscriptions and escalating costs of medical services
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