MEDICAL AID FOR CIVIL SERVANTS ON THE CARDS

MBABANE – Government employees could soon enjoy medical aid benefits. This has been disclosed by Public Sector HIV/AIDS Coordinating Committee (PSHACC) Acting Director Sandile Mweli.

“We will consult with the relevant stakeholders and interrogate whether it would be feasible to provide medical aid to civil servants,” disclosed Mweli at the Old Mutual and PSHACC Pre-retirement Planning Breakfast Meeting held at Royal Swazi Spa yesterday.

Mweli’s response was after civil servants and wellness coordinators at various government departments raised concerns to the effect that they were being coerced to run helter skelter in search for money from shylocks and other credit providers to cater for medical expenses.

The civil servants claimed they were forced to seek credit to manage their health because the employer does not offer a subsidised medical aid, which they felt should be offered.
Fire and Emergency Services Mpendulo Dlamini thanked Old Mutual for convening the event which was primarily to engage and present solutions that could help the public to prepare better towards retirement including learning more about the secrets of money management.

“Every employee should have medical aid to avoid running to shylocks in search for credit to pay medical fees,” said Dlamini.

Standards

National Public Service and Allied Workers Union (NAPSAWU) President Aubrey Sibiya advised that health standards of public hospitals ought to be upgraded to meet standards of private hospitals in order to allow civil servants to make more savings that could invested to make meaningful contribution to civil servants livelihood.

“The employer should not make the lives of civil servants worse off. The price of electricity will be hiked, VAT is on the rise but there has not been an increase in staff salaries,” said Sibiya.

 Old Mutual Business Development Manager Mthokozisi Ntshingila advised civil servants to start planning about their retirement early to make the right saving choices.
“As soon as you start working, you must start planning your retirement,” said Ntshingila.           

  

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: