Doctors release outcome of meeting with Health Minister

Zimbabwe doctors have released the outcome with Minister of Health and Child Care Dr Obadiah Moyo after a crunch meeting on the current challenges in the sector.

Here is what the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association has released to its members via its vice president and spokesperson Dr Mxolisi Ngwenya.

Following submission of our position paper to the Minister, as well as our letter dated 09 Oct 2018, the following developments have occured:

1. Drugs and equipment – minister reiterated that there is no forex in the country and they continue to engage companies that have business in Zim to get forex in exchange for our local currency. An initial USD 50mil is required. The 22 mil allocated in January has the remaining part still RTGS form. The Minister could not gve a deadline or roadmap as to procurement of these.
2. Staffing and establishment – HSB stated treasury has no funds to unfreeze posts. The explanation is in the letter below
3. Remuneration – Minister stated there is no forex. He said he us aware of our plight. He agreed to look into our donor issue, however no promise made on our salaries as the coffers were said to be devoid of USD. We continue to engage in this regard. However, in terms of fuel, commitment has been made to re-ignite the old way of havng fuel at our hospitals. Meanwhile, we engage service stations for priority due to the nature of emergency of our work. We should have a solid scheme by Friday
4. HSBNP – letters to be written to lawfully reconstitute the bipartite
5. Working hours – these will be prescribed ASAP. Reminder to be sent to Director of Curative services
6. Casualty – minister agreed that interns are not to mann casualty alone. He committed to look into the issue with the Deputy Minister and Director of Curative Services as a matter of urgency
7. HSB vs HSC – the minister says he is still lobbying for this. We have suggested a petition to parliament to bring about a totally independent Health services commission.
8. Health insurance companies – this has been a bone of contention and the minister requested to look into it and consult accordingly
9. Hospital admin – enquiry into each admin is being made.

These are the answers we got fellow Cdes. ZHDA remains a negotiator between the members and the MOHCC, but our key mandate is to push the agenda of members and patients.

As seen above, we seem to have no assurance of drugs and equipment.

We implore members to suggest a way forward.

END

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