Transparency International Zimbabwe (TIZ), a local anti-corruption body, has accused doctors employed in public hospitals of making illegal referrals to lure desperate patients to their private surgeries.
TIZ observed in its latest report on corruption in the public health sector in Zimbabwe, that some private health facilities are owned by public health medical practitioners and specialists.
In recent years, Zimbabwe has witnessed a sprout of private medical surgeries in its major cities and towns which citizens largely rely on as the public healthcare sector is deteriorating. TIZ report reads:
Since 1991, there has been a tremendous increase and growth of private healthcare centres largely underpinned by an extensive private-sector health insurance system and government policy support for private sector involvement.
This has facilitated medical specialists and general practitioners to open private health facilities whilst rendering their services in the public sector…
It was stated that doctors usually recommend patients to go to their private facilities where they are charged exorbitant fees for seeking healthcare.
Whilst there is evidence of lack of drugs and equipment in public hospitals, this creates a notion that private hospitals or clinics have better services leading to exorbitant charges in those private facilities.
Members of the public have also been pushed to private health institutions by government-worker squabbles that have seen medical professionals constantly protesting over poor remuneration and bad working conditions leaving patients unattended.
More: NewZimbabwe
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