Zanu (PF)’s manifesto said an overarching goal of the people is the improvement of the health delivery system to attain health for all. “This is particularly important in view of the numerous challenges facing Zimbabwe’s health sector such as shortage of skilled professionals and health care staff, an eroded infrastructure with ill-equipped hospitals or clinics and lack of critical medicines and commodities,” reads the manifesto adding:
“As part of its policy of health for all, Zanu (PF) will address these challenges as a matter of top priority over the next five years.”
MDC-T said prior to its involvement in the Inclusive Government, the health system had suffered a complete collapse with the then government failing to take care of its people.
“Citizens had no access to medicines; shortage of doctors and nurses due to brain drain effect, there was inability of the government to hire necessary medical personnel, and severely dilapidated hospitals and medical equipment. “An MDC government will introduce an integrated Health and Social Security System to ensure a quality and affordable health delivery system,” reads its manifesto.
The MDC says it established access to basic emergency health services as a basic human right in the new Constitution and to meet this obligation an MDC government will:
“Introduce a national health care service and insurance system, ensure quality universal, maternal basic and emergency healthcare, and provide free antiretroviral medications, malaria prevention and treatment.
“In addition, it would unfreeze the hiring of nurses, attract and incentivise skilled specialised medical professionals to return to Zimbabwe, strengthen educational institutions preparing the next generation of medical personnel and launch a public awareness and education campaign on non-communicable diseases such as cancer, diabetes and heart diseases,” MDC-T promised.
The ZAPU manifesto said health plays an important role in economic and social development of a country. “ZAPU believes that basic health services should be controlled by Provincial governments. The national government should focus on large teaching hospitals, training standards and registration of health institutions, as well as links with international entities such as the United Nations, World Health Organisation and UNICEF,” reads their manifesto.
ZAPU said in order to improve health services, the following need to be tackled: “Improve the quality of health services as well as expand health to those areas which do not have them, maintain a conducive environment for health provision by the private sector, promote training programmes to meet the needs of the health service and create an attractive environment to retain medical personnel in the country.
“In addition, make it mandatory for those in employment to contribute to medical aid schemes and ensure that such schemes are monitored for quality services and work towards comprehensive medical coverage through a National Health Service that can provide a reliable safety net for the poor, long term unemployed and vulnerable groups,” promised ZAPU.
Post published in: News