Govt to actively enforce free treatment for snr citizens policy

GWERU – The government has put in place stringent surveillance mechanisms to make sure hospitals comply with the directive to offer free medical services to senior citizens, pregnant women and minors under five years of age.
This was said by the Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs, Owen Ncube, as he welcomed First Lady Auxilia Mnangagwa at Gweru Provincial Hospital a fortnight ago.
“It is disappointing to report that some of health institutions in the province were not complying with the government’s free user fee for children aged five and below, senior citizens and pregnant women.
“In light of this, we have put in place a monitoring and evaluation system through the Joint Operations Command (JOC) to closely monitor this non-adherence to policy,” Ncube said.
Ncube also urged the government to lift a ban on the recruitment of health officers saying some institutions were incapacitated.
He pointed out that new medical equipment procured by the new government for public health institutions should see hospitals offering better services.local