The Sunday Mail
Isaac Tiki (27) from Mutoko is one of the survivors from the recent accident that claimed the lives of 26 people, along the Harare-Nyamapanda highway.
Isaac, unlike some survivors who have been discharged from the hospital, is yet to leave hospital as his fractured right leg still needs close monitoring. His stay at Parirenyatwa Hospital is beginning to frustrate him as he is grappling with the medical bill, which continues to escalate right in front of him.
“I was told to pay $400 upfront by the doctors so that they could attend to my leg,” he said.
His sister had to come to his rescue and paid the amount.
“I am scheduled to go for surgery next week but I am supposed to pay an additional amount, money which I do not have at the moment, and they have indicated that nothing will be done before any payment,” he said.
On the fateful day, Isaac was returning to Namibia where he is based. He had decided to extend his Christmas vacation by two weeks.
Isaac’s story is not different from most of the survivors of the accident as they are required to pay for their medical bills either before or immediately after they receive medical attention, a requirement beyond most of the victims.
Government, however, declared the accident a national disaster paving way for the provision of State-assisted burials. The assistance includes $200, a coffin for the deceased, transport from the mortuary to the burial place.
As in most cases which are declared national disasters, the help does not extend to survivors, especially those who come out with injuries.
Mutoko East legislator Cde Ricky Mawere confirmed that he had received reports of hospitals that were demanding cash from the victims.
“I have received reports that some hospitals wanted to detain victims because of non-payment of medical bills, but they were later released,” he said.
“There are some who have been made to pay money before they receive treatment and this delays medical attention because the money will not be readily available,” he added.
Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals chief executive officer Mr Thomas Zigora refuted the claims and said despite the inadequate funds coming to the health sector, the hospital had never closed its doors to anyone who sought medical assistance.
Mr Zigora, however, said at times patients, especially accident victims, were made to pay or buy medicines that would not be at the hospital for them to get medical attention.
“It is no secret that funding that is coming to the health sector is inadequate and this creates problems at the institution because the medicines and equipment are in short supply,” he said.
“For accident victims, once they are admitted we attend to them using the meagre resources at our disposal. However, if there are medicines or medical equipment needed urgently they will have to fund or pay that for themselves.”
“It is unfortunate that victims are made to part with large sums of money they would not have budgeted, however, there is no one else to ask the bills from,” he said.
Mr Zigora also added that there was need for clear guidelines on how transport operators should contribute to accident victims especially on those who would need medical attention. He said the clear guidelines would avoid situations where hospitals would require accidents victims to fund for their medical bills. Cde Mawere concurred and urged the Transport Operators’ Association in Zimbabwe to create accident fund policies which cater for road accident victims both in the short term and long term.
He said besides providing funeral assistance, transporters were supposed to cater for survivors’ medical bills even years after the accident.
“Countries like South Africa have accidents fund which is separate from individual companies’ passenger personal accident which cover policy and government assistance. These accident funds help those who would have been disabled due to accidents. Families are also able to claim road accidents funds from the association.”
Transport Operators’ Association of Zimbabwe (TOAZ) chairperson Mr Cosmos Chandisarewa said it was the main responsibility of the individual transport operator to provide funeral and medical assistance to accident victims.
“As an association we do not offer that kind of support to accident victims, individual operators have that responsibility and our responsibility is to encourage them to take insurance which will cover them at times like these.”
The Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (Zupco) said it would provide assistance to both the deceased and the injured through the company’s passenger personal accident cover policy which is yet to release the funds.
