News / National
Zimbabwe govt begins process to procure cancer treatment machines
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The government has announced the commencement of a process to procure cancer treatment machines, addressing a critical gap in the country's healthcare system that has worsened the plight of cancer patients.
Speaking to NewsDay over the weekend, Health and Child Care ministry spokesperson Donald Mujiri confirmed the initiative, describing the machines as essential to the health sector.
"The Ministry of Health and Child Care has identified the need to procure cancer treatment machines, which have been a critical requirement in the health sector since 2018," Mujiri said. "The Ministry has already started the procurement process and has received all the required approvals from the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe."
The move comes in the wake of mounting pressure from human rights doctors, who have demanded transparency on the use of revenue collected through the sugar tax. The Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR) recently pressed the ministry for details on how the funds have been utilized, particularly concerning the purchase of medical equipment.
In a letter dated January 13, 2025, ZADHR, through its lawyers Kantor & Immerman, cited provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, demanding an update on equipment bought and the amounts allocated. The doctors reminded the ministry of its legal obligation to respond within 21 days of receiving such requests.
"It has been close to a month since you received the request. You have failed and/or neglected to provide an immediate acknowledgment of request as provided by the law," the letter stated.
The doctors' request coincided with the government's disclosure that it had collected US$30.8 million from the special surtax on sugar content in beverages since the implementation of Statutory Instrument 16 of 2024. Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion permanent secretary George Guvamatanga confirmed the figure in response to ZADHR's inquiries.
Introduced in the 2024 national budget by Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube, the sugar tax was initially set at US$0.02 per gram of sugar in beverages. However, following complaints from manufacturers, the rate was revised to US$0.002 and later reduced to US$0.0005, effective January 1, 2025.
The sugar tax was designed to create a cancer fund, a promise the government now seeks to fulfill through the acquisition of cancer treatment machines. While the Ministry of Health has assured progress on the matter, pressure from advocacy groups like ZADHR highlights ongoing concerns over accountability and the effective use of public funds.
The availability of cancer treatment machines is expected to significantly improve healthcare outcomes for patients in Zimbabwe, where inadequate medical infrastructure has long been a challenge.
Speaking to NewsDay over the weekend, Health and Child Care ministry spokesperson Donald Mujiri confirmed the initiative, describing the machines as essential to the health sector.
"The Ministry of Health and Child Care has identified the need to procure cancer treatment machines, which have been a critical requirement in the health sector since 2018," Mujiri said. "The Ministry has already started the procurement process and has received all the required approvals from the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe."
The move comes in the wake of mounting pressure from human rights doctors, who have demanded transparency on the use of revenue collected through the sugar tax. The Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR) recently pressed the ministry for details on how the funds have been utilized, particularly concerning the purchase of medical equipment.
In a letter dated January 13, 2025, ZADHR, through its lawyers Kantor & Immerman, cited provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, demanding an update on equipment bought and the amounts allocated. The doctors reminded the ministry of its legal obligation to respond within 21 days of receiving such requests.
"It has been close to a month since you received the request. You have failed and/or neglected to provide an immediate acknowledgment of request as provided by the law," the letter stated.
The doctors' request coincided with the government's disclosure that it had collected US$30.8 million from the special surtax on sugar content in beverages since the implementation of Statutory Instrument 16 of 2024. Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion permanent secretary George Guvamatanga confirmed the figure in response to ZADHR's inquiries.
Introduced in the 2024 national budget by Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube, the sugar tax was initially set at US$0.02 per gram of sugar in beverages. However, following complaints from manufacturers, the rate was revised to US$0.002 and later reduced to US$0.0005, effective January 1, 2025.
The sugar tax was designed to create a cancer fund, a promise the government now seeks to fulfill through the acquisition of cancer treatment machines. While the Ministry of Health has assured progress on the matter, pressure from advocacy groups like ZADHR highlights ongoing concerns over accountability and the effective use of public funds.
The availability of cancer treatment machines is expected to significantly improve healthcare outcomes for patients in Zimbabwe, where inadequate medical infrastructure has long been a challenge.
Source - the herald
