THE government has banned hospitals from purchasing
equipment from companies that do not offer after-sales services, saying it has
been incurring high service costs.
Last month, the Senior Hospital Doctors Association blasted
government for purchasing
US$600 000 worth of obsolete equipment, which included
theatre equipment, incubators and ventilators from an Indian supplier last
year.
The doctors said some of the equipment was condemned by the
engineers on arrival and that the manufacturer had long discontinued the lines
and no longer manufactured spares for repairs.
Health permanent secretary Agnes Mahomva made the remarks
yesterday while touring Mpilo Central Hospital, United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH)
and the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport.
She was part of the delegation which included Health
minister Obadiah Moyo, Bulawayo Provincial Affairs minister Judith Ncube and
Global Fund executive director Peter Sands.
“We will not be able to sort every problem and issues that
you come across. Let us be clear on that, service contractors are there. That
does not take away the equipment that has already been bought,” Mahomva said.
“Let us make sure that the equipment we have works, but let
us be clear that the new or replaced equipment should have service providers.
You (Mpilo) are a procurement unit, you should work with your service
providers. They are the ones who then buy the specifications for the equipment
and become part of it.
“The challenge you have is now ours because of the
equipment that was bought in the past, which have no service contractors. So
let us work together to make sure that those machines are functioning.”
She said she was delighted that the power challenges at
Mpilo had been sorted out. Mpilo was on Sunday last week plunged into darkness
after daring thieves stole power cables.
“Last week, Mpilo Hospital chief executive officer Leonard
Mabhandi came to our offices in Harare speaking about the interruption of
power. We are delighted that everything is finally working and that there has
been a software upgrade,” Mahomva said. Newsday
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