GOVERNMENT EXTENDS $4 BILLION BAIL-OUT PACKAGE TO PSMAS & PSMI
1. Government wishes to inform all stakeholders of a bail-out package which it extended yesterday (Tuesday) to Premier Service Medical Aid Society (PSMAS) to the tune of ZWL$ 4, 258, 518.459.18.
2. The bail-out package is intended to resuscitate operations at the society and support PSMI, some of whose medical facilities had closed in recent weeks.
3. The injection of funds will enable the restoration of operations at the embattled medical insurance group through, among other support, the clearance of salary arrears for PSMI staff.
4. Also contained in the bail-out package is support towards the clearing of third-party arrears, which had suffocated operations at the medical aid society.
5. This is a clear demonstration of Government’s commitment to the provision of access to health care for public servants, who make up 90 percent of PSMAS clients.
6. This development is expected to enable the re-opening of PSMI health care facilities across the country and restore operational viability.
7. Civil servants who subscribe to PSMAS are expected to be able to access healthcare services from the society’s clinics timeously.
8. This bail-out package is part of broader support by Government which began since challenges started at the organisation earlier in
the year and is expected to continue until full normalcy is restored.
9. This latest injection of funds to PSMAS follows prior support by Government to the tune of ZWL 999 million monthly – 60% of which had been intended for liquidation of financial obligations to creditors, PSMI included; while 40% had been for channelling towards PSMAS operations. Furthermore, Government provided USD USD1,100,000.00 towards the purchase of drugs.
10. An ongoing forensic audit at both PSMAS and PSMI is still in progress.
11. When finalised, forensic audit findings will inform how further governance matters will be dealt with.
12. Government remains committed to ensuring that its workers access health care as part of its non-monetary benefits extended to its workers.
Dr T. R. Choruma
Secretary to Service Commissions