By Health Reporter
ZIMBABWE has injected US$27 million into cancer diagnostic machines in a move set to strengthen cancer treatment in the country.
A total of US$27 million has been channelled towards the procurement of two low-energy radiation machines, which have since been delivered to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals and Mpilo Hospital.
In addition, two multi-energy linear accelerator machines and two CT scanners are expected to arrive in the country this week.
Health and Child Care Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora and his Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion counterpart Professor Mthuli Ncube Monday visited Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals to assess progress in the installation of the newly-acquired cancer treatment machines.
Speaking after the tour, Dr Mombeshora said the next phase of the procurement programme would prioritise diagnostic equipment to strengthen early detection and improve treatment outcomes.
“In the second phase, we are procuring mainly diagnostic machines which will aid in the diagnosis of cancers because if cancers are diagnosed early, treatment is most likely to be very successful. Currently most of our cancers are diagnosed late, usually third or fourth stage, which is very difficult to manage,” he said.
Dr Mombeshora said the Government would procure additional diagnostic equipment, including MRI machines, CT scanners, ultrasound machines, advanced X-ray equipment and brachytherapy machines for the treatment of cervical and prostate cancers. He said plans were underway to ensure every central hospital had a CT scan machine, while provincial hospitals would also receive increased diagnostic capacity.
According to the National Cancer Registry, Zimbabwe recorded 7 841 new cancer cases in 2018, with women bearing a disproportionate burden.
Beyond Harare and Bulawayo, the Government plans to decentralise oncology services to hospitals in Chinhoyi, Gweru and Manicaland as more specialists and oncology-trained staff become available.
Dr Mombeshora said cancer services continue to experience significant pressure due to high patient volumes and existing backlogs.
“We cannot continue expecting patients from Binga, Beitbridge and Mkumbura to travel to Harare or Bulawayo for treatment. We treat about 150 patients daily, and despite that, we still have a backlog of almost 800 patients,” he said.
Prof Ncube said visible progress at Parirenyatwa demonstrated how targeted health financing could deliver tangible results.
“I am pleased to see this progress that the tax on sugar content in beverages is being put to good use as intended. But as you know, this tax is not one-off, so every year, every month, we are raising some resources, and they go towards further procurement, including procurement of drugs and other material that is required to make this work,” he said.
He said the sugar and fast food taxes remained an ongoing funding stream dedicated to strengthening health services, adding that Government was committed to ensuring other health-focused revenue streams, including levies on airtime and data usage, as well as gaming and gambling taxes, continue supporting public health responses.
“Sugar tax is already ring-fenced. That is what we are using to buy these machines. Frankly, we are making sure that it supports the health sector. Cancer has been our first port of call. There may come a time when we need to look at other health areas.
“We also have other taxes which have been targeted at the health sector, such as the airtime levy, and the tax on gambling, for which we are targeting the drug and substance abuse challenge.
“I have told my team that they must ring-fence it for that purpose, so that we can support the development and construction of rehabilitation centres for the youth who are afflicted by the drug and substance abuse issue,” he said.
