Parliament told ministry owes Mpilo Hospital for assisted medical treatment orders
Parliamentary Watch
BULAWAYO — Parliament has heard that the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare owes Mpilo Central Hospital and other public hospitals money for assisted medical treatment orders issued to vulnerable patients, with legislators calling for greater funding for the ministry.
The issue was raised in the National Assembly on Tuesday, 1 September 2026, during debate on a report by the Portfolio Committee on Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare.Hon. Mushoriwa said the ministry, which is responsible for supporting people who cannot afford medical care, had accumulated unpaid obligations at major referral hospitals across the country.
“This is the ministry Madam Speaker, that is supposed to assist with medical treatments, what we call Assisted Medical Treatment Order (AMTO),” Mushoriwa said.
“If you go to Parirenyatwa, Chitungwiza and Mpilo hospitals, you will see that this ministry owes a lot of money to these hospitals because they have been issuing AMTOs, but nothing has been happening in the funding aspect and payment of those debts to the hospitals.”
Assisted Medical Treatment Orders are intended to enable indigent patients to access essential medical treatment and procedures at public health institutions.
Mushoriwa’s remarks place Mpilo Central Hospital, Bulawayo’s primary referral health facility serving the southern region, at the centre of parliamentary scrutiny over whether social-welfare support for patients is being matched by Treasury disbursements to the hospitals providing the care.
Assisted Medical Treatment Orders (AMTOs) are government medical-assistance vouchers administered by the Department of Social Development for people who cannot afford treatment. The programme covers health fees for very poor households, persons with disabilities, people with severe or continuous illnesses and vulnerable children at government hospitals.
Applicants generally approach their district Social Welfare office, where their eligibility is assessed. Approved beneficiaries receive vouchers that are presented at government hospitals, which later seek reimbursement from the ministry.
The system is therefore dependent on timely payments to hospitals. Any delays in settling AMTO claims can leave public hospitals carrying the cost of treating vulnerable patients, even after the care has been provided.
The debate arose as lawmakers considered the ministry’s budget performance and the ongoing resource constraints affecting social safety net programmes.
Community Podium is the recipient of the 2025 Outstanding NGO Reporting Award. This reflects our dedication to amplifying community voices and advancing public-interest journalism.
