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Paidamoyo Chipunza Senior Health Reporter—
The Association of Healthcare Funders of Zimbabwe has put in place measures to assist medical aid cardholders who would have been turned away by doctors come July 1 2016, AHFoZ chief executive Mrs Shylet Sanyanga has said.In a statement yesterday, Ms Sanyanga said any member whose card would have been rejected by their doctor should contact their respective medical aid society immediately.

“Medical aid members and beneficiaries are therefore advised that in the event that their usual doctor is no longer accepting your medical aid card, kindly contact your medical aid for assistance. Medical aid societies have put in place arrangements to assist their members whose doctors will be rejecting the medical aid card,” she said.

Mrs Sanyanga said AHFoZ had assurances from most doctors that they will continue treating patients on medical aid. “AHFoZ wishes to advise members covered under any of the medical aid societies in Zimbabwe that the majority of general practitioners and specialists have confirmed that they will continue accepting medical aid cards even after 1 July 2016,” she said.

She said doctors assured the health funders that they will continue accepting medical aid cards. “AHFoZ continues to engage so that those doctors who intend to go on cash can review that position, considering the difficulties that are obtaining in the environment.”

General and specialist doctors have vowed to stop accepting medical aid cards with effect from July 1 arguing that a majority of health funders were either not paying claims on time or were paying less than the gazetted tariff.

The doctors, through the Zimbabwe Medical Association (ZiMA), on Monday reaffirmed their position to only attend to cash patients if Government fails to de-register all defaulting medical aid societies.