MDPPZA Doctors discuss challenges
Shingirirayi Mugodi recently in Mutare
THE second edition of the Medical and Dental Private Practitioners of Zimbabwe Association (MDPPZA) conference, held in Mutare over the weekend, has been described as an eye-opener.
The conference, which attracted medical practitioners from different parts of the country, was held under the theme: “Sustainability and Welfare of Health Care Providers in this Changing Environment”.
In his address, MDPPZA president, Dr Johanes Marisa, said:
“MDPPZA was formed because there was a realisation that private practitioners had unique issues that needed collective solutions hence this meeting as an association to discuss the progress we have made so far.
“There are a number of issues that were giving private practitioners stress but they were being ignored and these include non-payment by medical aid societies, absence of recognition by key stakeholders, prohibitive rules and regulations, among other things.
“We then decided to join forces with other private practitioners so that we have one voice that we can use to make noise and get results.
“As MDPPZA, we have managed to get national recognition, we got permanent lawyers for the association, we have managed to partner with TRES Group International, who are there to help us with making instant payment methods, and we have also managed to raise funds that we use when we do our corporate social responsibilities.”
Speaking at the same event, Dr Simango, who is based in Bulawayo, stressed the need to do away with nepotism, among other issues, in the medical industry.
“There is a need to address the issue of nepotism.
“People now employ their relatives whom
they do not know if they can be able to do the actual job because they just want to give them jobs.
“Medical practice needs one to have an open door policy where people are allowed to give feedback of how the practice is operating or how it should change.
“When it comes to financial responsibility, there is a need to employ the right people for the job for you to avoid losing out.”
Similar sentiments were echoed by Credsure managing director, Kelvin Mutyavaviri, who hailed their relationship with MDPPZA.
“We strategically partnered with MDPPZA
because we want to share a good vision and great future.
“We also want to uplift each other.
“Over the years, 10 percent of the population of people who are sick are being treated while the other 90 percent is being ignored, that is what our partnership with MDPPZA is aiming to mitigate.
“As Credsure, we are also in the midst of reaching out to other different organisations to help us as well.”
Many of the presentations stressed the need for medical practitioners to join hands and work together.