Govt to establish own pharmacies

Nyore Madzianike Manicaland Bureau
PRIVATE pharmacies could soon be out of business as Government plans to establish its own outlets that will be selling medication at lower and affordable prices.

The Ministry of Health and Child Care is working on modalities to establish such outlets at Government hospitals and clinics around the country.

Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs Dr Ellen Gwaradzimba said President Mnangagwa has since given an assurance that drugs will soon be available in Government hospitals and clinics at affordable prices.

Dr Gwaradzimba said this on Monday at Zororai Old People’s Home in Mutare where she handed over food stuffs to the elderly.

“I heard through my office that you were running out of food and I felt it was proper that we help you through this small gesture,” she said.

“I work with different people who range from politicians, businessmen and other people from around the province. These are people who also assist me with such food stuffs that we have brought here. I know you have other needs apart from food. I want you to write them down and bring them to my office.”

Responding to some challenges that the elderly from Zororai Old People’s are facing such as the shortage of money to purchase drugs, Dr Gwaradzimba said: “We are aware that some pharmacies are now demanding foreign currency for drugs. But I would like to assure you that some of them will soon go out of business as Government will be selling same drugs in its outlets at public hospitals and clinics.

As we speak, the Ministry of Health is working on it and the President assured us when we came from the (Zanu-PF annual) conference that Government will soon be selling drugs at its hospitals and clinics at affordable prices.

Zororai Old People’s Home Board member Mr Arthur Chinaka thanked Dr Gwaradzimba, who was accompanied by the director in her office Mr Kennedy Mugarisanwa, for her gesture.

“This is a great occasion for us. We depend on the department of Social Welfare but having people like you around says a lot to us here. This came as a surprise. We really thank you,” he said.