Sharon Chigeza Mutare Correspondent
ZIMBABWE National Network for People living with HIV (ZNNP+) has called for the scrapping of user fees charged upon collection of anti-retroviral drugs by health institutions in Mutare, saying the practice was creating a number of challenges.

In an interview with The Herald, ZNNP+ Manicaland provincial coordinator Mr Moses Chananuka said the $3 collection fee per person was economically draining ART patients living in Mutare urban, resulting in some defaulting.

The city health clinics are requesting a payment of $3 per patient regardless of age and number of people collecting from the same household.

This has put a financial strain on households were most or all family members are on ART, he said.
Mr Chananuka said they had put in place differentiated service models such as community ART refill groups to ease the burden of the collection of the drugs, but the user fees were drawing back such initiatives.

The community ART refill groups were put in place to reduce the cost of travelling to collect the drugs as one person would be responsible for the collection for at least 10 people.

“This has not helped in Mutare’s referral centres as the user fee is still being charged on group members in absentia,” said Mr Chananuka.

He said Mutare City health institutions were the only ones still charging these fees in the province, as most councils had already scrapped the charge.

“As a result, he said people had turned to out-of-town clinics such as Zimunya to collect their treatment.
“Patients have resorted to collecting their treatment from Zimunya Clinic, which is the closest and not charging a fee, which is also straining the supply at the clinic,” he said.

He bemoaned the $3 user fee as cumbersome given an estimate of 10 000 people in Sakubva and 3 000 in Dangamvura living with HIV and having to collect their treatment on a quarterly basis.

Mr Chananuka said they had tried engaging the city health director on the issue and were promised the issue was to be raised with the city fathers.

Mutare City health director Dr Anthony Mutara said they were aware of the issue and were in the process of reviewing the tariffs as they prepared for the 2019 budget.

We are currently in the process of reviewing our tariffs as we prepare for the 2019 budget.
The issue of the user fees on the collection of ART treatment has been brought to our attention and most likely there is going to be a reduction in the fee for the coming year,” said Dr Mutara.

You Might Also Like

Comments

Take our Survey

We value your opinion! Take a moment to complete our survey