
This was after Mabhande told guests that Mpilo was going to
charge $25 for breast cancer screening during the commissioning of the $500 000
mammogram machine at Mpilo.
Mabhande had justified the fee, saying breast cancer
screening at other institutions cost $50.
“We are not going to be using the normal rates for our
patients. We are going to be charging $25, so that they are affordable,” he
said.
“For those on medical aid, we are going to be charging the
Association of Health Care Funders rates, $50 per pair (breast), but we are
going to be charging $25 per pair for all others.”
But this did not go down well with Parirenyatwa, who asked
why charge such “high fees”, when they are using a mammogram machine donated
and being maintained by NAC.
“It will be pointless to have such a wonderful machine and
fail to serve its purpose due to the exorbitant fees,” the Health minister
said.
“This machine has been donated by NAC and it is going to be
maintained by the council, so where is your justification for charging such a
fee to the poor woman?
“I tell you, it will not be easy for every woman to afford
that $25. Those who cannot pay should be assisted after vetting them.
“So, the procedure here is we want as many women to benefit
as possible, so when they are going to do this breast screening, the procedure
is going to be free.”
The mammogram machine becomes the third in the country’s
hospitals after Harare Central and Mutare General hospitals got their supplies
recently.
The Zimbabwe Cancer Registry says breast cancer is the
second most common cancer affecting women in the country with over 7 000 women
diagnosed and over 1 500 dying each year.
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