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Zim docs increase fees by 100%
11/04/2006 08:45 - (SA)
Johannesburg - The fees of general medical practitioners in Zimbabwe have risen by 100%, say reports on Tuesday.
It was reported that medical aid societies were also allowed to increase member contributions by between 70 and 90%. Specialist physician fees had been doubled.
On Monday night, health minister David Parirenyatwa announced the new fee structures, effective from April 1.
He said the increases were lower than the amounts the private health sector had been demanding after he temporarily froze any increases.
Asked whether people would be able to afford the new fees, the minister said he had arrived at the new percentages after wide consultations with relevant parties.
The government had no intention to destroy private health care providers, hence the move to allow fees that would enable them to remain in business.
The minister said: "I don't want to kill the private sector. I want it to thrive so that it can complement the public health sector.
"However, I am saying that it should not get out of control, hence the decision to start regulating their operations in earnest."
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