THE Zimbabwe government has hiked hospital fees by between 50% and 100% from January 1. Consultation fees went up from 75 dollars to 150 dollars for children while adults now pay 300 dollars, up from 169 dollars, at government hospitals, the report said. Due to under-funding, exacerbated by the escalating costs of treating the HIV/Aids pandemic, the state health system is in a state of near-collapse. – AFP