Chronicle Editor
Sibongile Maruta, Harare Bureau
Government has pledged $25 million to the health sector for the purchase of medical goods, medicines and surgical sundries to ease drug shortages and deal with price distortions in the market.
This comes as junior doctors at public health facilities embarked on an industrial action on Saturday, citing several challenges such as unsatisfactory working conditions, low salaries and lack of basic medicines and equipment.
Speaking to Harare Bureau yesterday, Minister of Health and Child Care Dr Obadiah Moyo said the health sector should expect to start getting medicines and medical supplies soon.
“The President has equally made a huge contribution in as far as making sure that products are available to the Ministry of Health. I am happy to note that an arrangement for $25 million dollars worth of medical goods, medicines and surgical sundries has been concluded through the efforts of His Excellency. We are very grateful for the effort made by His Excellency’s office. As soon as the products start coming in they should be distributed to various health care centres starting with Government institutions and this is all coming through Natpharm,” he said.
“I am happy to note that His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been considerate and he has been working with us, ensuring that we make all the arrangements necessary to be able to acquire various commodities required to ensure that we run an efficient health care service. At the same time credit facilities have been created by the Ministry of Finance for the benefit of the health system.”
Dr Moyo said discussions were still made between the President and the Indian deputy President, on the consignment of 100 tonnes worth of medicines, which will put us in a much better position if they arrive.
He urged junior doctors who are on strike to go back to work and look after patients.
“We have realised that the junior doctors have been having problems with fuel. It is very painful to see young doctors travelling in the kombis together with their patients. We want a situation where our doctors and all our health care workers are well looked after. In fact my number one priority has always been to ensure that all health workers are well looked after. We want everyone to come back to work and look after patients. It is my strong belief that there has to be an engagement and dialogue on a continuous basis. I have no problem meeting the junior doctors. I met another group and I would like to meet everyone,” he said.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors’ Association secretary general Dr Mthabisi Anele Bhebhe said the industrial action will continue, as there was no formal engagement with the Minister of Health and Child Care.
Dr Moyo said he was ready to meet with the association representatives.
derick.khumalo