WEST END Hospital, a flagship unit of Premier Service Medical Investments (PSMI) will open its doors to the public on May 2 after seven months of closure.
By Kuda Pembere
This comes as a relief to PSMAS membership which often times would be returned home without getting treatment due to the workers’ strike.
The closure was as a result of the company’s employees who complained of salary non-payment with the management then blaming the closure on “cash flow ceilings affecting the major client, Premier Service Medical Aid Society (PSMAS).”
PSMI national workers committee chairperson Munyaradzi Nharaunda told journalists that following deliberations between government, PSMAS and PSMI employees, they are ready to resume work.
“We have been closed for a while due to circumstances beyond our control. The other thing is PSMI deviated from its mandate as some executives were stealing money, venturing into gold dealings, doing things which had nothing to do with the company.
“So as PSMI employees, we are back to the nation with the intention to help every civil servant with the PSMAS card. We will open on May 2. From May 2, every PSMI employee will be ready to get back to work. Number two, we will be working at the sites which will be open.
“The nation should be on the lookout for information on the opened sites which will be published in newspapers, and broadcast on TV and radio. With certainty, we know West End Hospital, Prestige as well as the Airport Hospital alongside other Hospitals,” he said.
He explained that they were stalling resumption of duty because some corrupt individuals who were siphoning money from PSMAS into their pockets were left alone.
“The reason why we delayed opening was that the corrupt individuals were roaming about freely. Whenever we thought we were making some inroads, they would block progress. Such that when we talked about capacitation, they would block the avenues where money was supposed to come from. In so doing, government helped us by arresting these persons. By so doing, we find no reason to remain closed,” Mr Nharaunda said.
Mr Nharaunda added that they are hopeful interim management will bring about change into the company.
“At the moment, there have not been any leadership changes but as workers we hope there be a structure which minimizes the siphoning of money out of PSMI. Most of the money should be channeled towards the operations of the company because that is where the bulk of the employees are instead of it lining the pockets of a handful of individuals.
“So this is something they are fixing as we open going forward. Deliberations to fix that have already begun,” he said. “PSMAS and the interim management selected by Government is coming in with a structure to be used which will be followed whether we like it or not.
“This structure has been tried and tested as effective. They are reverting to the decentralization after centralizing most of the operations and funds. This means each line of business (LOB), hospital will be operating as a stand along looking after its own funds, employees amongst other things.”
He said they are confident that by June most of the workers would have returned to work and that most of the facilities will be reopened.
“Some centres were closed because PSMI was a tenant and there was no remittance of rentals resulting in the closure. Some of our staffers who are professionals have looked for greener pastures. For us to open a ward, there should be a certain number of nurses or doctors. So, for example a ward which is supposed to have ten personnel now has three, it means we have to restructure. We will be building up as we go forward but we are certain that by end of June, all our entities will be open,” said Mr Nharaunda.
