By Tendai Matunhu
Cabinet has approved the Medical Services Amendment Bill 2019 as a way of improving the health care provision by safeguarding and promoting the right of every citizen and permanent resident of Zimbabwe to access basic health care services.
Speaking at the 43rd Cabinet Meeting Decision Matrix in Harare yesterday, Minister of Information and Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Monica Mutsvangwa said cabinet had considered the approval of the Medical Services Amendment Bill 2019.
“Cabinet considered and approved the Medical Services Amendment Bill 2019, which the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs presented as the Chairman of the Committee on Legislation,” she said.
Minister Mutsvangwa also said the Bill is intended to align the Medical Services Act (Chapter 15:13) with the Constitution, under the ongoing Legislative Reform Programme which is being pursued by the Second Republic.
She said the Amendment primarily seeks to safeguard and promote the right of every citizen and permanent resident of Zimbabwe to access basic health care services, including reproductive health care. The right of every person to emergency medical treatment in any health institution and the right of every child to health care services.
Minister Mutsvangwa revealed that the Amendment accords priority to rights of persons over seventy (70) years, persons living with disabilities and veterans of the Liberation Struggle to access medical attention.
Cabinet presented on the industrial action by public health doctors and City of Harare nurses saying, the 46 dismissed doctors had presented themselves for work at various institutions following the moratorium which had been extended by President Emmerson Mnangagwa. Cabinet directed that the moratorium would not be extended further as this would affect patients and that decisions on conditions of service would be held with doctors on duty.
Cabinet presented on the welfare of doctors saying the construction of flats for lease to doctors had commenced in Harare and 2 blocks of medium density flats would be constructed across the country’s hospitals on a phased approach.
