Public hospitals can manage COVID-19 caseload
The Ministry of Health and Child Care says public hospitals can manage the COVID-19 caseload for free. This means that there no need for the public to pay unreasonably high fees demanded by private hospitals.
Responding to public concerns, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Health and Child Care Mr Donald Mujiri, said hospitals and public institutions runs by local authorities offer free testing and treatment.
“Government is offering all services provided by private hospitals. This includes testing, admission, treatment, surgery and follow up for COVID-19 patients”, Mujiri said.
Medical Superintendent at Gweru Provincial Hospital Dr Fabian Mashingaidze backs this by acknowledging that they are admitting COVID-19 patients for free. He goes on to confirm that they have one of the best COVID-19 centres after receiving some funds. They have ventilators at the hospital.
However, public hospitals have been said to be incapacitated to handle COVID-19 patients. The 85 per cent of people preferring home based care is a reflection of what is really in public hospitals. Early this January, nurses from Harare Hospital went tools down because of lack of PPE. Another worker from the same institution also claims that the COVID-19 testing at the hospital is bogus. This comes after two nurses working at Harare Hospital succumbed to COVID-19.
Public hospitals can manage COVID-19 caseload
The public had to comment on the issue of public hospitals being free and capable saying,
“It is free because there is nothing to pay for. No PPE, no doctors, no ventilators and no medication. Just sleeping hostels full of COVID-19 patients.”
“I don’t believe this. On Christmas day a colleague reported to Parirenyatwa with chest pains and nurses asked him to go to the COVID-19 tent. He was told he would be tested and detained for two days. For all that he was told to pay $10 200.”
On the other hand, private hospitals are very expensive charging more than US$500 for admission only then an additional US$100 or more per day depending on the condition of the patient.
As a result most people prefer home based care because of the exorbitant hospital bills at private hospitals and inadequate PPE and machinery at public hospitals.