Medical aid societies cry foul

MEMBERS of some medical aid societies are crying foul as pharmacies are refusing to process their prescriptions, saying their systems are down.

They are only accepting cash and electronic cards as a mode of payment.

This has led people to believe that the system is being manipulated to force people to use preferred payment methods.

A survey of pharmacies in Chinhoyi showed that attendants begin processing the prescription, but once one produces their membership card, the tune changes.

“I gave them my prescription and the pharmacist started processing everything until I produced my medical aid card, he told me that the system is down,” said Mr Thomas Kera. “I went to another pharmacy and the situation was the same.”

Some retailers and other service providers have increased prices of commodities on the back of speculation.

However, Government is taking steps to bring normalcy to the market.

A pharmacist who declined to be named for professional reasons said the resultant price distortions caused by speculation had seen pharmacies circumventing the long waiting period for claims to be processed.

“Cash is a challenge and it is needed to restock and swipe is processed immediately,” said the pharmacist. “So, the time lag between processing of claims and the fluid nature of the market at the moment is forcing such interventions.”

This puts members of medical aid societies in a quandary.

“We join medical aid societies as a back up plan when one falls ill without money,” said Affirmative Action Group Mashonaland West chapter chief executive officer Mr Tapuwa Chikondowa.

Mr Chikondowa said the call for discipline on the market by Government should be followed.