By Naledi Nyoni
Harare – Private hospitals could soon be required to treat all patients with life-threatening emergencies for at least 48 hours regardless of their ability to pay under a proposed new law.
The Medical Services Amendment Bill, now before Parliament, aims to align the Medical Services Act with the constitutional right to health, according to Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi.
“This Bill is a testament to our commitment ensuring that every citizen and permanent resident of our nation has access to essential health services,” Ziyambi told the National Assembly on Tuesday.
The Bill would allow the health minister to set maximum fees for private healthcare services and would repeal a clause that previously exempted some longstanding charges from regulation.
All fees, regardless of when they were introduced, would be subject to ministerial approval.
Clause 8 of the Bill proposes that private institutions must provide emergency care to critically ill patients for a minimum of 48 hours, even if they cannot pay.
The state or private arrangements would cover the costs.
“This mandates private institutions to admit patients suffering from life-threatening conditions… even if they cannot afford treatment.
“This is a lifeline for many,” Ziyambi said.
The Bill also includes a clause obligating all medical institutions to treat prisoners and detainees at the state’s expense.
Other provisions criminalise the act of blocking a child from receiving medically necessary treatment and impose tighter controls on how much private hospitals can charge.
Ziyambi defended the Bill as “a progressive and essential piece of legislation… which ensures that health care is not a privilege but accessible to all.”
However, some doctors and analysts warned that the changes could overwhelm private hospitals.
They say mandatory emergency care for all could stretch resources, cause medicine shortages, and even force some institutions to close.
Critics argue the government should instead prioritise fixing the underfunded public health system to match private sector standards.
