The Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) must show seriousness in addressing the delay in purchasing cancer treatment machines due to their slow pace to collect funds raised by the Finance Ministry under Sugar Tax, introduced two years ago.
The delay is causing a lot of damage and loss of life to cancer patients who had the chance to survive if treated early.
In November last year the Finance Ministry announced that it had raised 30, 3 million US dollars from sugar tax solely meant to buy cancer treatment equipment for hospitals in the country as a way to fight the scourge but we are almost reaching another November without action from the MoHCC.
The lack of urgency and justification of the delays by the MoHCC Minister, Dr Douglas Mombeshora was not only astonishing but ridiculous.
Responding to a question from Chiredzi Central MP, Ropafadzo Makumire, Dr. Mombeshora alleged that they were still consulting experts and plan to start with Parirenyatwa and Mpilo hospitals first.
He also alluded that the machines are expensive as one may cost about US$5 million dollars but there is US30 plus millions lying idle at the treasury waiting to be collected.
What boggles the mind is that does the Ministry need almost a year to do consultations with cancer machines experts? The period is just too long and unjustifiable.
Zimbabwe Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR) added their voice to MP Makumire’s concerns saying the delay was causing suffering and death of cancer patients who could have survived if the machines were bought in time.
An official from the Finance Ministry confirmed that the funds are still there uncollected and they are only waiting for the Health Ministry to collect.
This was after a resident asked what had happened to the cancer funds announced last year as hospitals still do not have cancer equipment at a workshop held at the Flamboyant hotel in Masvingo recently.
ZADHR urged a speed implementation of the purchasing process and advised the relevant Ministry to provide the machines to other provinces instead of prioritizing the two big cities Bulawayo and Harare.
