8 February 2007 - Mozambican Health Minister Ivo Garrido on Wednesday announced the scrapping of the current two-tier system in public hospitals whereby patients with more money get preferential treatment.
Speaking at the opening of the Fourth Meeting of his Ministry's Hospital Council, Garrido promised that the "special clinics", at which those who can pay for treatment jump the queue, will disappear.
Garrido explained that this measure seeks to ensure that services of good quality are provided to all citizens regardless of how much money they have in their pockets.

People, who want special treatment can go to private clinics, said the minister. But in public hospitals all Mozambicans, regardless of their social standing, must have access to quality services.
"The services provided in our hospitals should be special for everybody and not just for a minority," declared Garrido. "Hospital management should be undertaken in an integrated fashion, to provide a series of first class services to all users, without any discrimination".
The proposal to do away with the Special Clinics is not new - this proposal was made at the Third Hospital Council, held in November 2005. But there was no follow-up - hence Garrido's decision that this type of clinic can no longer be tolerated, and must end in the public hospitals this year. 

 
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