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Government will continue negotiating with private laboratories to enable economically disadvantaged patients to benefit from services that are not available in public institutions at reasonable costs.
Speaking after touring Lancet Clinical Laboratories — a South African-owned laboratory in Harare on Wednesday, Health and Child Care Minister Dr David Parirenyatwa said the institution was conducting some cancer tests for Government patients free of charge.
“I am aware that they are already taking some specimens for free, especially those for final cancer diagnosis, what they call immuno-chemistry, that is good,” he said. “We hope that can be expanded.”
Dr Parirenyatwa said Government hoped that the same arrangement could be worked out on other laboratory services which were not available in Government laboratories.
He expressed gratitude on the sophisticated equipment and services at the private laboratory, saying Government appreciated the training component it offered to other scientists in Government institutions.
Lancet laboratories also assists scientists from Government institutions with training using latest medical technologies.
In relation to equipment, Dr Parirenyatwa said there were other technologies that Government could also procure for its institutions.
Lancet Clinical Laboratories chief executive officer Dr Charles Muronda said they will continue engaging Government because it was the custodian of health services.
“We see ourselves as very strong in public-private partnerships in that we are not competing with Government services, but rather complementing Government services,” he said.
Dr Muronda said the role of the private sector was to step in when Government could not provide certain services because of existing challenges.
“With the expertise that we have, we are also available for advise when its needed,” he said.
Principal director for curative services in the Ministry of Health and Child Care Mr Christopher Tapfumaneyi, laboratory services director Mr Douglas Mangwanya, who is now chairman of the laboratory services in Sadc and other officials took part in the tour.
Online Reporter