Zimpapers Logo

Paidamoyo Chipunza Health Reporter
Government will appoint an interim manager to run the affairs of the Premier Service Medical Aid Society (PSMAS) following the resignation of its board members on Friday last week. Addressing a press conference in Harare yesterday, Health and Child Care Minister Dr David Parirenyatwa said the society would also be given its operating licence for 2014.

Dr Parirenyatwa said the society would, however, have to meet its obligations as stipulated in Statutory Instrument 330 of 2000 and also prove its financial stability. These conditions include paying all service providers within 60 days after a claim has been raised and making sure that its administrative costs do not outweigh operational costs.

“We as the ministry, also caused the board to resign, which they did on Friday and as the regulator, are looking at how PSMAS can move forward in a strong way. We do not want to kill PSMAS.

“We also do not want to kill any medical aid society but we would like them to operate under conditions that are stipulated by our regulations,” Dr Parirenyatwa said.

“So we have decided at this juncture that there will be an interim manager, to manage PSMAS, to be appointed by Government,” he added.

He said the role of the interim manager would be to look at the administrative, accounting and other procedures for PSMAS. He said as they do so, they would be preparing for a further thorough forensic audit that should be announced in preparation for the annual general meeting (AGM).

“They have been asking for a licence from us and as the regulator we’ve been withholding that licence. We are now in a position to give it to them.

“We will be strict. We will not tolerate corruption and any hidden agendas.
“We will move forthrightly, so that we are able to make sure that people have confidence in PSMAS,” he said.