Source: India to build hospitals in Zim – DailyNews Live
Bridget Mananavire 1 March 2017
HARARE – India has pledged to provide cash to upgrade Zimbabwe’s public
hospitals and build two hospital complexes and supply them with medical
equipment.
The two medical centres will offer inpatient and outpatient treatment,
emergency services, and maternal and child care.
“We need to improve medical tourism, India is a leading country now as far
as medical expertise and medical facilities that are affordable to
patients, and that is why a number of patients are going to India for
treatment,” National Assembly Speaker Jacob Mudenda told journalists after
a courtesy call from Indian Ambassador to Zimbabwe Rungsung Masakui.
“The ambassador is in agreement that instead of having patients going to
India, the process has begun to identify one or two hospitals to upgrade
them and bring in the Indian model of care, with a team of doctors
initially and thereafter the local doctors will take over and implement
that model that is affordable not only to the people of Zimbabwe but Sadc,
so that Zimbabwe becomes a centre of medical excellence.
“There is a proposal for two memorial hospitals dedicated to veterans of
the liberation struggle. One is being proposed to be constructed in
Victoria Falls and another one here in Harare . . . the preliminary
investigation into this is underway, and these will be important
landmarks.”
The Indian envoy said there were three Indian hospital groups that were
scouting for opportunities to construct other hospitals in Zimbabwe.
“One of them is the NH Group, and the other one is Fortis and the other is
Savitri. The NH has just come in and did scoping activity.
“I am told that they are coming in March to take the step forward, and the
others are in talks with stakeholders here.
“It’s up to the government of Zimbabwe and the ministry to engage in any
one of them,” Masakui said.
Meanwhile, the ambassador said he was happy that Mudenda had clarified
government’s position on the Indian community and businesses after Zanu PF
legislator for Harare South, Shadrek Mashayamombe, had called for all
Indian nationals to be expelled from Zimbabwe
“I am also happy that the honourable speaker has assured that the
statement that came out in the press against Indian businesses was not the
policy of the government and I want to thank the speaker for making that
assurance and clarification,” Masakui said.
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