Minister of Health and Child Welfare, Henry Madzorera, said the funds raised would allow the scrapping of hospital user fees which inhibited the poor, especially pregnant women and those with HIV and AIDS, from accessing healthcare.
“There is need to introduce some form of tax so that people in the country get to access health facilities, especially pregnant women,” he said.
According to UNICEF at least eight women die in childbirth – often outside medical settings – and 100 children under the age of five also die daily because of, among other factors, prohibitive user fees.
Madzorera said the introduction of such a tax is yet to be tabled in cabinet, but would not affect the already heavily taxed workers.
“We can always find a way through which we can assist people,” he said.
“The taxes could be minimal.”
Coalition of African Parliamentarians Against HIV and AIDS member and Kwekwe MP (MDC-T) Blessing Chebundo agreed user fees should be abolished – and the shortfall funded by so-called sin taxes.
“As MPs we agree that there should be a new tax, but this should not be achieved through taxing the already heavily taxed workers,” Chebundo said.
“We need to look at other avenues of getting revenue, such as introducing sin taxes on tobacco and alcohol.”
Tafara resident Admore Tizarai said such a tax would be met with resistance from drinkers and smokers.
“Beer and tobacco are already expensive and the prices should not be increased,” Tizirai said.
“If that happens then people will turn to cheaper and harmful substances such as ZED (an imported Mozambican drink) this will cause even more problems for the government.”
Post published in: News