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Michael Gelfand Clinic

Herald Reporter
Michael Gelfand Clinic-ER 24 has been downgraded by the Association of Healthcare Funders of Zimbabwe (AHFoZ) after the clinic failed to meet standards of an upmarket health facility, it has emerged.

In a notice dated October 25 2013, the healthcare regulator said it had downgraded the clinic from Grade A to D.

The decision was made after the regulator made an impromptu inspection at Michael Gelfand Clinic-ER 24 recently.
“Societies are hereby advised that Michael Gelfand Clinic-ER24’s grade has been reduced to Grade ‘D’ as a result of failure to comply with requirements of the accreditation document. The effective date is 25 October 2013,” read part of the circular which was copied to all medical societies.

The downgrade means the clinic no longer meets the requirements of an upmarket private health facility.
In addition, all medical aid societies will review downwards their medical tariffs in accordance with the clinic’s new grade.

In a response, AHFoZ chief executive officer Mrs Shylet Sanyanga said the downgrading of the Clinic was not meant to punish the institution but to assist its management to take corrective measures to address declining standards at the clinic.

“As we speak there is another institution which has also been downgraded, its (Michael Gelfand Clinic-ER 24) not the only institution that has been subjected to that,” she said.
“When we carry out these investigations or inspection, they are not in any way meant to punish the institution but to help it to maintain standards.”

The grading of health institutions takes into consideration the suitability of the infrastructure, availability of equipment, aesthetics and other support services.

A grade determines how much an institution can claim from medical aid societies.
AHFoZ is responsible for carrying out inspections and grading of the country’s medical facilities.
Inspections are jointly carried out in collaboration with the Private Hospitals Association of Zimbabwe.

After stakeholder consultations it was agreed that all medical facilities in Zimbabwe should have periodic inspections to ensure that they comply with the health requirements.

Rock Foundation Medical Centre in Mt Pleasant another upmarket facility went through the same exercise and managed to maintain its grade.

Sources said Michael Gelfand Clinic was downgraded after problems were unearthed at its radiology unit as well as the unavailability of critical care units to support its Grade ‘A’ status.

When contacted for comment, Michael Gelfand Clinic-ER 24 director Dr Nyasha Maboreke rebuffed the AHFoZ downgrade arguing his institution met the standards of an upmarket health facility.

“This is a regulatory issue which should not be in the public domain,” he said. “You are not a judge or a lawyer you are just a nobody, so don’t call me asking me about those questions. Our business is doing well and all is well.”

The Harare-based clinic was named in memory of Prof Michael Gelfand, who was one of Zimbabwe’s most distinguished medical practitioners who received a Papal Order of the Knighthood of St. Sylvester.

Prof Gelfand who died on July 12 1985 while attending a patient at the Avenues Clinic is remembered in Zimbabwe with admiration and affection.