Speaking during the Ministry of Health and Child Care public consultations for the Medical Aid Societies Bill last week, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry Dr Gerald Gwinji said traditional healers can start their own medical insurance schemes.
Said Dr Gwinji:
Just as much as they (traditional healers) have their own associations, they have got this right to form a fund, of course. We have burial societies that people have. It is some form of insurance, which is created by communities outside the registered service providers. You cannot stop them from forming such, it’s not a formal registered insurance, but it exists to serve these groups’ clients as people do consult traditional healers.
He also said Government could not compel medical aid societies to pay for the services of traditional healers.
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