Zimbabwe Treasury stalls funding of cancer machines

Zimbabwe's two largest referral hospitals, Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare and Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo, remain without life-saving cancer treatment machines due to a delay in releasing US$27.5 million by Treasury, Health and Child Care Minister Douglas Mombeshora told Parliament this week.

Despite the Health Ministry completing procurement paperwork and signing contracts with suppliers, Treasury has not paid the required 30% deposit, effectively stalling the installation of the equipment.

"As the Health Ministry, we have awarded tenders to two companies for Parirenyatwa and Mpilo hospitals. All in all, we spent US$27.5 million. We submitted to Treasury papers for them to pay the 30% deposit as per the agreement and in accordance with the suppliers' instructions. Contracts have since been signed. It is now more than two months since we signed the agreements. Therefore, it is now up to the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion to pay for the machines so that they can be installed," Mombeshora said.

Suppliers have promised to install the equipment within 36 weeks, raising hopes that the machines could become operational before the end of the year.

Zimbabwe has recorded over 3,000 annual cancer deaths since 2014, with colorectal cancer on the rise. Zaka South MP Clemence Chiduwa raised concerns about limited facilities for early diagnosis and colonoscopy services.

"Cancer cases are on the increase and one such cancer is colorectal cancer, which affects people mainly above the age of 45. What is the government policy on prevention and early detection of colon cancer? Do we have any public facilities where we can get colonoscopy services?" Chiduwa asked.

Mombeshora acknowledged the strain on the health system, noting shortages of specialists and diagnostic equipment, particularly in district hospitals. He said government intends to use revenue from the Sugar Tax to fund both treatment and diagnostic equipment.

"As you may be aware, a Sugar Tax has been introduced to help fund cancer-treating and diagnostic equipment. In Phase 1, we have done tenders for the procurement of treatment equipment and in Phase 2, we are now going to procure diagnostic equipment. Every hospital should have a CT scan, an MRI, and an ultrasound scan," he said.

Opposition MP for Chiredzi Central, Blessing Ropafadzo Makumire, criticised the delays despite the Sugar Tax being collected since January 2025.

"The Sugar Tax, which is supposed to be used for the procurement of cancer machines, started being collected last year in January, yet to date, we have not received any machines that have been procured, which suggests that the government lacks urgency in solving this problem. How long will it take for the government to procure this equipment? What is preventing and causing the delay?" Makumire said.

Mombeshora confirmed that US$30.3 million was available as of December 2024, with the procurement process beginning with Parirenyatwa and Mpilo, where critical cancer machines have been non-operational for the past three years.

The ongoing delays have raised concerns over Zimbabwe's capacity to provide timely cancer treatment, highlighting the urgent need for the release of funds to save lives.