Parliamentarians slam PSMAS service delivery

Nyashadzashe Ndoro

ZIM NOW REPORTER

Several Members of Parliament on Wednesday registered complaints regarding the Premier Service Medical Aid Society’s service delivery.

The concerns were raised during a session in the Zimbabwean Parliament.

The majority of PSMAS members are civil servants.

Ruwa MP Guide Muwodzeri highlighted the plight of government employees who are members of PSMAS. He pointed out that despite 97% of government employees being enrolled in the medical aid society, they are being denied services by medical service providers due to non-payment by PSMAS.

These patients are then forced to pay for medical attention upfront. The legislator inquired about the steps being taken by the Ministry of Health and Child Care to ensure the government remits its contributions to PSMAS in a timely manner.

Deputy Minister of Health, Sleiman Timios Kwidini, acknowledged the challenges and offered some explanations. He revealed that the ministry is aware of the issue regarding payment remittances to PSMAS. He added that mechanisms have been put in place to address this concern. Kwidini said that a new board has been established to oversee PSMAS and ensure the resumption of services to its members.

“As for now, there are some mechanisms which we have put in place to make sure that all the medical services which are being rendered by PSMAS, there is a board which has been set up such that it can resume to make sure all the services are provided by PSMAS and the Government is remitting the money to PSMAS, such that everyone will receive the proper service,” he said.

Another MP, Prosper Mutseyami, questioned the timeframe for the resumption of services. Highlighting his own struggles and those of his family members, he emphasised that PSMAS has not been delivering services for over a year.

“My supplementary question to the Hon. Minister, I just have to put it to him that from last year up to now, PSMAS has not been giving any service. Now that the board has been put in place and the presentation that has just been done by the Hon. Minister, when are they going to give the services to the civil servants including myself? I am suffering the fate as well as my grandmother,” he questioned.

Kwidini responded by clarifying that PSMAS has continued to offer services throughout the past year. He admitted that some PSMAS facilities were not operational, but some members were still able to receive services at government hospitals, particularly private wings within those hospitals.

He also conceded that while most PSMAS facilities were functioning, they were not operating at full capacity.