Published: 14 August 2017

Government has begun consultations for a draft Medical Aid Societies Bill that is expected to regulate health insurers in the country if promulgated into law, Health and Child Care Secretary Dr Gerald Gwinji has said.

Dr Gwinji said during the consultations, Government would get input to the draft Bill from all registered healthcare providers, health insurers and consumers.

Consultations for health care providers are expected to take place on August 22 after which health insurers will also get a chance to input into the draft Bill.

Consumers will be given a chance to also air their views at two different meetings scheduled for Harare and Bulawayo.

Dr Gwinji said after the consultations, Government would then collate all the input from stakeholders, which would then be submitted to the Attorney-General's Office for final adjustments.

"Following the AG's final adjustments, we will then hand over the draft Bill to the Cabinet for approval and then table it in Parliament for debate," said Dr Gwinji.

The Zimbabwe Medical Association (ZiMA) welcomed the developments, saying regulation of medical aid societies was long overdue.

ZiMA is in the process of writing a petition against Government demanding a full autonomous regulatory authority for health insurance.

ZiMA anticipates to present its petition to Health and Child Care Minister Dr David Parirenyatwa on September 1 and is in the process of collecting signatures from its membership.

"We have fought hard and long to get to this point and this will be one of the most important defining moments for health insurance and medical practice in this country for generations," said ZiMA secretary- general Dr Shingi Bopoto.
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