By STYLE REPORTER
Private practitioners in the medical and dental fields have jointly formed a union — the Association of Medical and Dental Private Practitioners of Zimbabwe (AMDPPZ) — which caters for practitioners in private practice.
AMDPPZ is an inclusive body that includes nurses, medical doctors, dental therapists, dentists and laboratory scientists, among others.
“The objectives of the association include, among others, taking care of the welfare of the practitioners in situations like disputes with medical aid societies, gazetting of tariffs and quality management by all practitioners,” said the association’s interim president Johannes Marisa.
“We will as an association complement government’s efforts on natural disasters like cyclones and floods, where laboratory scientists, nurses and doctors can be mobilised for comprehensive health delivery by private practitioners.
“We had examples of some practitioners dying and their families struggling to raise funds for funerals. The association would provide minimal funeral assistance that includes a casket and basic foodstuffs, among others.”
Marisa, a medical doctor, said unlike the Zimbabwe Medical Association, the Zimbabwe Dental Association and the Zimbabwe Nurses’ Association, which represent specific medical groups, AMDPPZ was an inclusive body.
“We want to speak with one voice as an inclusive body. We need each other and it’s prudent to air our grievances as one board,” said Marisa.
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Other members in the interim board are renowned dentist Augustine Mazvuru (vice-president), Cletos Masiya (secretary-general), Moreblessing Pise, who represents nurses, as well as Wilson Chari standing in for dental therapists.
Medical aid societies have been struggling to reimburse the expenses incurred by their members when they access healthcare services, especially at private health centres.
Marisa said AMDPPZ, which is a national body, among its dictates would engage medical aid societies.
