Health and Wellness
Dr Solanki calls for advertising regulations relaxation
I ask; how will the foreigners know when Zimbabweans don’t know what facilities are available in Zimbabwe?
PROMINENT medical doctor Dr Vivek Solanki, recently implored Government to review local advertising for medical services providers.
Dr Solanki said this during his awards acceptance speech at the fourth edition of the Zim Community Trailblazers Awards ceremony held recently
He said that doctors were not allowed to advertise, their services in order to educate the public on the world-class facilities that are available locally.
“People like us, have to push the button and enlighten the authorities that we have to make the changes, we have to assist.
“When we land in Johannesburg, Nairobi and India, and Dubai, there are billboards and overall advertising for the medical facilities.
He lamented the fact that the same facilities were available in Zimbabwe yet the locals were no aware of that.
Solanki, who has been a medical practitioner for 37 years, added that this was because of limitations of dissemination of information about what they do.
“Our President talks about medical tourism and the Trauma Centre is big in medical tourism, a lot of foreign patients from all over come here.”
I ask; how will the foreigners know when Zimbabweans don’t know what facilities are available in Zimbabwe?
Patient Moyo
March 28, 2024 at 7:56 pm
Aren’t the patients supposed to be referred by other practitioners? Should Dr. Solanki not make his colleagues aware of the services that are available so patients are seen at Trauma Centre’s facilities as a necessity? There is a risk of supplier induced demand when doctors start advertising. Patients who are not in need of a service may be lured by testimonials etc to seek inappropriate care. Will this not overwhelm the medical aid societies?