ZIMBABWE’S leading medical aid firm, Premier Service Medical Aid Society (PSMAS), has handed over a fully refurbished hospital to the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) Presidential Guard in Dzivarasekwa, Harare.
By Michael Gwarisa
The refurbishment of the facility covered the main hospital and outpatients which consist of consulting rooms, pharmacy, optometry, rehabilitation, x- ray, ultrasound scan, laboratory, dental, and procedure room.
In his acceptance speech, Chief of Staff Administration, Major General Emmanuel Matatu said the gesture by PSMAS to renovate the health facility was testimony of the cordial relations the society has with its members in the ZNA.
The official handover of this Hospital is a culmination of a cordial private-public relationship that began in November 2017 that sought to give selected camp hospitals a facelift. The selected hospitals that sought to give selected camp hospitals a facelift. The selected hospitals include 41 CBT GP Camp hospital which was completed, three FD AMB COY and Tsanga Lodge which are in progress.
“For this camp hospital in particular, it must be noted that the existing structure that served as an outpatient department was partially demolished and a new extensions was built to accommodate a curative, X-Ray, Laboratory and rehabilitation department,” said Major General Matutu.
He added that there is room for further cooperation between PSMAS and the ZNA in order to capacitate the health sector and reduce dependency on the private health sector.
“Our partnership with PSAMAS has not been about the renovating and construction of facilities only. We have basic medical cover for our members and I am aware that there are some issues relating to what some private health providers demand against what PSMAS offers. I urge our health service and PSMAS to find workable solutions. We can re-channel claims back to the health services for essential drugs and other needs. Our relationship is enduring and can contribute immensely to our health services.”
Meanwhile, PSMAS Managing Director, Dr Nixjoen Mapesa said, “It gives me great pleasure on behalf of PSMAS to officially handover a refurbished Presidential Guard facility to the Zimbabwe National Army. Ladies and Gentlemen, this project started as way back as 2018 after the rehabilitation of 4 Brigade in Masvingo following a partnership arrangement with the Zimbabwe Defence Forces.
“Realising that the Zimbabwe Defence Forces was one of the loyal members of PSMAS, the Society partnered the same to rehabilitate its facilities in a bid to bring access to healthcare services to all its members. This refurbishment of this facility covered the main hospital and outpatients which consist of consulting rooms, pharmacy, optometry, rehabilitation, x- ray, ultrasound scan, laboratory, dental, and procedure room. Ladies and Gentlemen, today’s event highlights what PSMAS has been rallying to achieve, which is to bring quality healthcare close to the people.”
He added that the Society was working flat-out to improve its general service delivery through a number of activities. These activities include digitalisation of its communication platforms to ensure that all enquiries are attended to timeously, optimisation of internal systems and processes to enhance efficiencies, revamping current product offerings to mitigate shortfalls and enhancing the preferred network of service providers to increase card acceptability among others.
“The refurbishment, therefore, fits very well in the Society’s strategic direction of generating the necessary change in healthcare industry by providing members with cost effective healthcare services and products. It also demonstrates our commitment to partner with Government in developing healthcare infrastructure in an effort to bring relief and transformation to the people and in this case the security forces at Presidential Guard, their families, and the surrounding community.
