ONE of Zimbabwe’s oldest medical aid societies, Cimas, has increased its membership contribution fees by 50% with effect from 1st of July 2015.
The increase comes after Cimas recently suspended giving drugs to members through its card system. Members now have to fork out more cash to buy medicine.
Developments at Cimas come days after the announcement by Parirenyatwa Hospital that it had increased patient admission fees by over 100%.
A circular to members by acting Cimas managing director Rodrick Takawira, says the adjustment has been prompted by the high cost of claims which surpass the contributions collected.
“The society would like to advise its valued members on the upward review of contribution rates for individuals on our two top packages, Individual Private and Individual Medexec packages”.
“The packages have been reviewed as follows; contributing Member Category other dependant Pvt Hospital”.
“Individual Member, $146, Spouse $146, Child $71 and Student $118 respectively”.  
“Medexec Member, $174, Spouse $174, Child $104 and Student $174”.
Subscribers of the society were also shocked last month when they were told that they would no longer able to get medicine using their medical aid cards.
Takawira was quoted as saying the suspension was necessitated by the manipulation of their system by fraudsters.
At the beginning of the year, Cimas was ordered by the Competition and Tariff commission to stop interfering with subscribers’ right to choose a doctor or institution of their choice after it was revealed that the medical insurer was engaged in respective practices.
This week Parirenyatwa hospital increased admission fees by more than 100%, a development which is likely to deny many their right to health as guaranteed by the Constitution. 
Admission fee is now between $140 and $185 from just $50 charged previously after paying$15 consultation fee upfront before being attended to by a medical doctor which patients have been failing to pay.Advertisement