THE Private Healthcare Association of Zimbabwe (PHAZ) has raised concern over what it says is an excessive regulatory burden and limited patient choice in the healthcare sector, warning that these challenges are hampering the smooth operation of private health institutions.
Speaking on the sidelines of the association's annual general meeting in Nyanga, PHAZ chairperson Letitia Gaga said the organisation was engaging the government to address regulatory bottlenecks while collaborating on efforts to improve healthcare standards and workforce development.
The conference is running under the theme: "Driving Collective Action Towards Universal Health Coverage in Zimbabwe."
"The challenge which we have been facing is a number of regulatory issues – so many regulations in our industry and so many licences," Gaga said.
She however expressed optimism over the government's ongoing efforts to review regulations and the cost of doing business in the health sector.
"I am happy to say that the government has started the initiative of looking at all those issues.
“At the end of the day, we are going to see the prices being reduced and also to see the licensing being streamlined and coming up with fewer licences so that we are able to operate in our environment.”
Gaga said PHAZ was working closely with the Health and Child Care ministry to improve training and increase the number of healthcare professionals in line with government's targets.
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"We are going to work with the government so that we train the best staff in healthcare. We are also going to complement them so that they achieve their number which they want by 2030," she said.
The PHAZ chairperson also called for clearer separation of roles between insurers and healthcare service providers, arguing that patients should be free to choose where they receive treatment.
"The insurers need to concentrate on insurance and the service providers need to concentrate on service providing. People are not given choices," Gaga said.
The private health sector plays a critical role in Zimbabwe's healthcare delivery system, complementing public facilities that have struggled with resource constraints and staffing shortages.
However, industry players have long complained that overlapping regulatory requirements increase operational costs, which are ultimately passed on to patients.
