Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
AN assistant accountant at Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital, Phillip Sofirinyo (46), was relieved of his duties for abusing the Government Assisted Medical Treatment Order (AMTO), and embezzled funds meant for patients’ medical expenses.
VCPH medical superintendent, Dr Hillary Makiwa confirmed Sorofinyo’s sacking.
“Yes, it is true. Phillip Sorofinyo was fired after due processes were taken, and he was deemed to have a case to answer. He went through the disciplinary procedures, and was found on the wrong side, thereby discharged from duty,” said Dr Makiwa.
The AMTO is a Government programme designed to help individuals who cannot afford medical treatment by covering their expenses in State-run hospitals.
The Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare is responsible for paying the medical bills of patients issued with an AMTO.
Sofirinyo, employed by the Ministry of Health and Child Care, allegedly used this programme to settle medical bills for patients, and then pocketed the money they would have paid.
Apparently, Sorofinyo is facing charges of criminal abuse of duty and fraud, as defined in Sections 174 and 136 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23.
Sorofinyo’s responsibilities at Victoria Chitepo Hospital, included preparing patient bills, managing accounts payable and receivable, and analysing cash flow statements.
However, on December 17, 2024, Sorofinyo exploited his position to corruptly obtain an Assisted Medical Treatment Order from District Social Welfare, for a patient, Mr Robson Chasango.
Mr Chasango, who was admitted at Victoria Chitepo General Hospital from December 10 to 17, 2024 owed the institution ZiG1 253 in hospital bills.
Instead of using the US$120 received from Mr Chasango’s relative, Mr Blessed Gunyere, to settle the bill, Sorofinyo pocketed the money.
He then billed the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare for Mr Chasango’s medical expenses, totalling ZiG16 253, through the Assistance Medical Treatment Order.
On January 17, Sorofinyo defrauded Mr Marcus Chigura of US$20.
He allegedly misled Mr Chigura into believing that the money would be used to settle Mr Prince Chigura’s outstanding hospital bill of ZiG$1 749, accumulated during his admission at Victoria Chitepo Hospital from January 10 to 17, 2025.
Sorofinyo falsely promised to use the US$20 to swipe the equivalent amount in local currency to cover the bill, deceiving Mr Chigura into handing over the cash.
Acting on the false promise, Mr Chigura handed over US$20 to Sorofinyo, believing it would settle Prince’s hospital bill.
However, investigations revealed that Sorofinyo pocketed the money, failing to provide a receipt or credit the equivalent amount in local currency to Prince’s account.
As a direct result of Sorofinyo’s misrepresentation, Mr Chigura suffered a financial loss of US$20, which was never recovered.
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