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Rumbidzai Muparutsa, Harare Bureau
THE Government is now offering free renal dialysis to patients in public hospitals.
However, the free service will only be available for those who cannot afford to pay for the life-saving procedure.
Renal dialysis is a procedure done to remove waste from the body in cases where kidneys are not functioning properly or have failed.
The programme comes as a huge relief to patients who have been paying around $300 per each dialysis session, with some undergoing two sessions every week.
The development comes barely two months after all Government hospitals started providing free blood to patients in need.
Government also rolled out the cervical cancer vaccination programme targeting nearly one million girls.
Health and Child Care Minister Dr David Parirenyatwa yesterday said the Government’s move is in line with efforts to fulfil universal access to health care.
“Government policy recognises that we are moving towards universal health coverage which, in fact, is primary health care where critical health services should be made accessible to our people. The services should be affordable and of high quality.
“We have rolled this out with the Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, Harare Central Hospital and Mpilo Hospital,” he said.
Dr Parirenyatwa said the free service will not be offered to patients on medical aid or those who can afford to pay.
“We hope the free services will be of great help to patients on kidney machines.
“Blood is also now free in all our institutions. We are using the Health Levy Fund to pay for these services,” he said.
derick.khumalo