Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care, Cde Sleiman
Kwidini, who recently visited the health institution said the allegations of
mismanagement of funds and resources were a threat to basic service delivery.
“I was at Zvishavane District Hospital assessing the
hospital. Remember I am on a familiarisation tour of health care facilities and
I learnt about the alleged mismanagement of funds and resources after meeting
the hospital management team and stakeholders,” he said in a recent interview
following his visit.
The Deputy Minister said he was alerted of how patients
were referred to some pharmacies for medication that was available at the
institution by members of staff who will be working in cahoots with the said
pharmacies.
“We want to find out whether what we are hearing as the
ministry is correct or not. We came here and found out that they have an X-ray
machine, which has not been working for the past eight years.
“We learnt that there is mismanagement of resources and
funds at the hospital. We discussed and mapped a way forward that will make
Zvishavane District Hospital a place where health care services are top-notch,”
said the Deputy Minister.
He reiterated the Government’s commitment to beefing up
infrastructure development and improving service delivery as top priorities
under the Second Republic.
“We want to make sure that the hospital is back to its
glory days. We understand that their X-ray machine has not been functional for
the past eight years. So, it’s our duty as the Government to make sure that all
things are functional. We will allocate them machines that will ease their
duties,” said Cde Kwidini.
Regarding the availability of drugs such as those for
chronic diseases, he said the Government health centres were being equipped and
the process will continue to ensure that patients have access to medications.
“The Second Republic under President Mnangagwa is really
trying to avail medications in health institutions across the country. We can
safely say drug availability is at over 60 percent and we are working to make
sure that we reach 100 percent,” said the Deputy Minister.
“But we have a challenge of some health workers who are
abusing their positions, a development that has resulted in patients failing to
access drugs.
“Patients are told that drugs are not there when they are
there. We are working on containing that evil.”
Two weeks ago, suspected drug procurement irregularities
were exposed at the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) when Deputy Minister
Kwidini visited the facility and red-flagged the hospital’s faulty drug
procurement procedures for contributing to the ongoing critical shortage of
medication at the facility. Chronicle
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