The more things change, the more they stay the same. Do you know there are many people on medical aid schemes who fear a doctor’s appointment and hospital visit because of ungodly shortfalls? One assumes the monthly deductions towards the same will cover any medical need as and when it is needed. But lo and behold, these contributors would rather walk into a pharmacy and buy meds off the counter or look for the nearest no-name clinic just to avoid digging dipper. It’s not always because they are too stingy to seek medical help at a good hospital. Sometimes these people are overstretched already and literally lack a little extra cash to spend on their health. I guess this serves as a business opportunity for someone out there to offer a medical scheme without shortfalls or exceptions.
Yet, many of these deductions are compulsory. We are also told to prepare for retirement by contributing towards the same through various administrators. Some of them are secretive and economical with the truth and also most connive with employers to sabotage the same or make lives a living hell for participants. Access to such information is limited and met with hostility that one wonders at what point, the same contribution becomes the contributors’ or the administrators. When will people be free to access their own money without hostility and lies? How have some institutions been allowed to operate for so long without accountability?
Insurance contributions benefit service providers more than the contributor. There are percentages to be contributed to claims, more than the accrual yearly amounts that keep motorists far away from insurance offices. They would rather rush to a township panel beater or a street mechanic and, sadly, forfeit deductions meant to serve a rainy day.
It is all about squeezing Malawians dry till there is nothing left to take from them. Even an escape to religion for a faith-filled solution is sometimes met with resistance in the absence of cash or any form of ‘gratitude’. Some churches will not beat about the bush about such incentives, literally overlooking the poor and giving VVIP treatment to those offering more in tithes, Sunday collections, church projects and pastor’s visits. These will not require prior appointment to meet the church hierarchy. They have free passage while the one with nothing is told to wait for a phone call or reschedule appointment time and again.
Even when a motorists is stranded on the road and pedestrians help out, they demand payment for helping. But rarely does the motorist demand anything when asked to ferry the sick or dead bodies to hospital by a less privileged neighbour. Check how fuel attendants cash-in during fuel crises. They assume owning a car, let alone sacrificing the queue and unprecedented litres just to last for a few days entails money availability in bulk, more than the motorists knows what to do with it.
I long for the day when some of these contributions should be by choice. Perhaps then people will acces services freely and prepared. Otherwise everything is a scum.
