THE Zimbabwean government risks being dragged to court should it fail the address the prevailing drug and essential drugs crisis which has seen most pharmacies and pharmaceutical retailers closing shops, putting millions of lives at risk.
By Michael Gwarisa
Through a statement, the Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR) said the ministry of finance and economic development and the RBZ should announce measures that will urgently put to an end the prevailing crisis.
“The Board of the Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR) met and resolved the following.
“To give a seventy two hour ultimatum to the Government of Zimbabwe through the Ministry of Health and Child Care, The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development and the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe to announce measures that will ensure adequate allocation of foreign currency from the central bank for drug procurement,” said ZADHR.
The deteriorating health situation in the country has accelerated soon after announcement of the monetary policy and mid term fiscal statements recently.
“Appalled by the nationwide closure of most pharmacies, service deterioration in hospitals and health centers citing foreign currency shortages, the existing hyper inflationary pressures and the attendant results of inability to access emergency medical care, treatment for chronic conditions including HIV and AIDS and other life-threatening illnesses by many Zimbabweans.
“Guided by the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, International Covenant of Social and Economic Rights, and the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights that all affirm Zimbabwe’s government obligation to promote, protect and respect the right to health.
“Inspired by the unequivocal declaration in the Constitution of Zimbabwe, section 76 that guarantees all Zimbabweans the right to healthcare. The Minister of Health and Child Care Hon. Obidiah Moyo to address the nation and put in place mechanisms to ensure no Zimbabwean will be denied access to essential medicines and health care.”
They added that failure by the mentioned authorities to avert the disaster in the health sector as outlined above, ZADHR will lodge an urgent constitutional court challenge citing the government’s violation of the right to healthcare as provided under international and Zimbabwean law.
“ZADHR also resolved that if no remedial action is urgently instituted it shall approach the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC), the African Human and People’s Rights Commission (ACHPR) and other international bodies for urgent intervention.”
