Johnson Progress

The newly proposed Medical Services Amendment Bill will require private hospitals to admit patients with life-threatening conditions for at least 48 hours for stabilization regardless of payment ability.

The bill aims to align the Medical Services Act with the country’s constitution, ensuring access to essential health services for all citizens and permanent residents, according to Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi.

Key provisions of the bill include emergency treatment where private hospitals must admit patients with life-threatening conditions for at least 48 hours, fee regulation where the health minister will determine maximum fees that private hospitals can charge for certain services, treatment of detained persons where all health institutions must treat prisoners or detained people at the state’s expense, and criminal penalties for parents or guardians preventing a child from receiving necessary treatment.

Paraphrasing Minister Ziyambi’s statement, the bill is a progressive piece of legislation ensuring healthcare is accessible to all.

“This Bill is a testament to our commitment ensuring that every citizen and permanent resident of our nation has access to essential health services,” he said.

“This mandates private institutions to admit patients suffering from life-threatening conditions for a period of not less than 48 hours for stabilisation, even if they can not afford treatment,” he added.

However, doctors have expressed concerns that forcing private hospitals to accept emergency patients without payment could lead to these institutions running out of resources, potentially causing them to shut down.

Instead, doctors suggest the government should focus on improving the public health system to match the standards of private healthcare providers.

The bill’s passage would bring Zimbabwe’s Medical Services Act in line with Section 76 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to basic health services and prohibits denial of emergency medical treatment.