This came out during a post-budget review meeting between the Ministry of Labour and Social Services and the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Labour and Social Services on last month.
A report from the ministry in possession of The Zimbabwean shows that government owes hospitals in excess of $2 million. “This item (health assistance for the elderly) was allocated $2 million against a requirement of $5 million, leaving a shortfall of $3 million,” reads part of the report.
“Health institutions are refusing treatment to vulnerable persons assessed for benefit because of this debt. This will continue into 2013 under this budget constraint,” reads the report.
Contacted for comment, the Minister of Health, Henry Madzorera, said he was unaware of the development.
“We are yet to receive a report to that effect. If it is true, they (Ministry of Labour and Social Services) should come and discuss the issue,” said Madzorera.
The Clinical Director at Harare Hospital, George Vera, referred all questions to the health ministry.
The Minister of Labour and Social Services, Paurina Mpariwa, is on record saying her ministry faces an uphill task sourcing funds from donors to be able to provide social services to the elderly following a paltry allocation from Treasury in the 2013 national budget.
In a related development, the Ministry of Labour and Social Services has expressed concern over the allocation given to the Basic Education Assistance Module for 2013, meant to assist marginalized children to have access to education.
“The 2013 budget allocation is $15 million against an ideal requirement of $30 million, leaving a shortfall of $15 million,” reads a report from the Ministry. The balance of $15 million will be sourced from the donor community – but this total sum will only to cover +/-230,000 pupils against a 2013 target of 780,000 pupils. “All this is against a background of increasing numbers of orphans and vulnerable children in the country who are largely targeted by this programme,” reads the report.
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