Remunerate Health Workers Well and STOP The Brain Drain Warns CWGH

THE Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) has issued a strong statement regarding the plight of healthcare workers in their International Workers Day solidarity message. By Michael Gwarisa CWGH Executive Director, Mr Itai Rusike said the current brain drain that has hit the healthcare sector was as a result of the deplorable living and working conditions the workers are exposed to. As the World celebrates the Workers’ Day today, the Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) calls upon the government to remunerate the health workers well and improve their working…

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Global Fund Allocates US$63 million To Fight Malaria In Zimbabwe

The Global Fund currently has three active investments in Zimbabwe, including one malaria grant of up to US$63 million. By Michael Gwarisa This funding is allocated for 2021-2023 and supports Zimbabwe’s continued progress toward ending the three diseases as public health threats. The other two grants comprise one HIV grant of up to US$449 million and a tuberculosis (TB) grant of up to US$26 million. According to Global Fund, malaria mortality in Zimbabwe has fallen by 75 percent and malaria incidence by 84 percent over the past two decades. Regarding…

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UHC A Pipe-dream Without Increasing Per-Capita Spending On Healthcare

ZIMBABWE’S per capita health spending is expected to increase by 100 percent from US$20 in 2022 to US$40 this year which however remains far less than what other countries are spending on their people, a leading health economist has said. By Kuda Pembere In a Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) 2023 budget analysis for the health sector, Dr Prosper Chitambara said the country is still spending less of its gross domestic product on health in comparison to other countries. Zimbabwe’s per capita spending on health is still about twice…

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Health equity, not a pipe dream: EQUINET

The Regional Network for Equity in Health in East and Southern Africa (EQUINET) has called for collective agency and action that embeds equity values in the region to promote health, amid deeply-rooted multiple challenges that are widening the gaps between rich and poor. By Nyasha Chingono The four-day EQUINET conference in 2022 (with session videos available on the EQUINET site) was held under the theme ‘Catalysing change for equity and social justice in health’. During the conference delegates raised calls for collaborative efforts between states, professionals and communities to tackle…

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AHFoZ, TGI deal to reduce healthcare costs by 30 percent

Zimbabwe’s largest body representing medical aid societies, the Association of Healthcare Funders Of Zimbabwe (AHFoZ) has partnered regional insurance technology (insurtech) firm Tres Groupe International (TGI) in a deal aimed at dropping healthcare costs for Zimbabweans by 30 percent. By Kuda Pembere TGI comes into this arrangement with its TGI Carenet, a Real Time Claims Processing and Settlement (RTCPS) model to the healthcare industry which is an instant payment platform backed by an EMV Smart card embedded with a microchip as well as the traditional magnetic stripe plus Near Field…

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We are ready to step aside says PSMAS board

THE battle to control the country’s biggest medical aid society, PSMAS, has reached a crescendo, with indications that all parties involved in this battle for supremacy are digging in. HealthTimes Reporter The ongoing battle involves leaders of the Public Service Association (PSA), and the Zimbabwe Confederation of Public Sector Unions (ZCPSTU), the defunct PSMAS board, PSMAS and the government through the Public Service Commission (PSC). Insiders from within PSMAS have since blamed members from the old board members and union leaders for trying to derail the ongoing Forensic Audit by…

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First Mutual RTGS Medical Aid holders stranded

ZIMBABWEAN Dollar Medical Aid holders under First Mutual Health insurance scheme will no longer be able to access healthcare services at any of the health facilities under the Medical Investments limited including the Avenues Clinic, a move that is likely to throw members into quandary. By Michael Gwarisa Sources privy to these developments told this publication that First Mutual Health (FMH) has not been forthcoming in terms of meeting their side of the bargain and have been paying for claims after a longer period in contradiction with a request from…

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Innovative Insurance Policy Purchased To Protect Up To 800,000 People In Zimbabwe From Drought Risk

A global network of humanitarian agencies has today announced the purchase of an innovative insurance policy in partnership with African Risk Capacity (ARC) and the Government of Zimbabwe. The policy is to protect more than 800,000 people in Zimbabwe from drought risk during the 2021/2022 agricultural season. Own Correspondent The $2.5 million USD policy purchased by Start Network and provided by African Risk Capacity, is built on parametric insurance. This means it pays out before a crisis, according to pre-agreed scientific triggers, based for example on rainfall data. Unlike the…

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PSMAS Introduces Chronic Care Program

IN an effort to improve access to medications for members with chronic medical conditions, Premier Services Medical Aid Society (PSMAS) has introduced a Chronic Medicine Programme with effect from today. (Wednesday, 1 September 2021). Own Correspondent The Chronic Medicine Programme was established to provide a service to members requiring treatment for chronic medical conditions. PSMAS is dedicated to managing chronic medicine use in a manner that is beneficial to the health of members, and to ensuring quality care through holistic member care. The program is designed to benefit both members…

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Zb Life Assurance Launches Enhanced Cash Funeral Plan

The enhanced plan will provide post-burial benefits such as tombstone, memorial service, school fees and cash for groceries, among other funeral and burial costs.  ZB Life Assurance, a subsidiary of ZB Financial Holdings, has launched an enhanced ZB Cash Funeral Plan to provide post-burial benefits to the policyholder, in addition to the cash benefits that assist with the financing of funeral and burial costs. Staff Reporter The enhanced product will help bereaved families to cope with post-burial expenses that are often a huge burden for the surviving relatives. Announcing the…

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