BY MOSES MUGUGUNYEKI & FREEMAN MAKOPA
Players from the entire medical spectrum are gathered in Mutare for the second edition of the Medical and Dental Private Practitioners of Zimbabwe Association (MDPPZA) conference.
Medical players including doctors, nurses, laboratory technicians, scientists and dentists, among others took the opportunity to network, share knowledge and resources and got inspired during the two day conference that was held under the theme Sustainability and Welfare Health Care Providers in this Changing Environment.
More than 60 medical practioners in private practice took part in the conference at a hotel in Mutare while several others joined virtually.
MDPPZA vice-president George Mhinga said what was deliberated during the conference spoke through to the theme.
“We are looking really on repositioning ourselves as medical practitioners in the ever changing environment become relevant and survive,” Mhinga said.
“What I personally expect out of this is that by the time we leave, we need to have strategised on how best to survive as practitioners and as an industry amidst all the changes that are happening in the country’s economy.”
The association has over the few years of its existence got attention from the government which has since allocated them land among other non-monetary benefits.
Last month government urged the private medical players to create partnerships and synergies with the government to save the country’s deteriorating healthcare system.
This was said by Health and Child Care deputy minister John Mangwiro who conceded that the situation in public hospitals was desperate.
“Why don’t you come as private medical practitioners and partner the government so that we save the situation in our public hospitals,” Mangwiro said.
“Let’s work in groups and come to government and say ‘we need to take up a ward at Parirenyatwa as private players, or you can even run the casualty section at the public hospitals in groups.”
However, the association is lobbying government to exempt members from paying duty on imported cars and medical equipment.
Early last month, MDPPZA reaffirmed its commitment to providing free medical services to vulnerable group as part of its corporate social responsibility.
This came to light when the association president Johannes Marisa led a team of MDPPZA members to Stoneridge in Harare where they donated food at Kudakwashe Children’s Care Centre.
Apart from community engagement, MDPPZA is working with a number of organisations offering medical service and these include medical aid societies, insurance companies and pharmacies.
MDPPZA held its inaugural conference in Kadoma in December 2020, which ran under the theme Restoring the Health Profession to its Glory through Moulding Balanced and Ethical Practitioners.
Marisa said the first conference had ushered a new era for MDPPZA.
“We made our achievements including collaborations with the government on the Covid-19 response programme,” he said.
“We have had corporate social responsibility programmes.
“We have sourced accommodation for our members and even got farms from the President [Emmerson] Mnangagwa.
“All this was born out of the ideas from the conference in Kadoma.
“I am sure this second conference will leave MDPPZA on another level.”
The association is an inclusive national body of medical practitioners in private practice and consists of 372 members.