Source: Phased cancer treatment services expansion begins – herald
Debra Matabvu
Senior Reporter
THE phased expansion of cancer treatment services has begun, with the programme set to extend to provincial and district referral hospitals countrywide by year-end in a move tailored to strengthen specialised oncology services.
Already, the Government has acquired and received two high-energy Linear Accelerators (LINACs), advanced radiotherapy machines for Parirenyatwa and Mpilo hospitals, while it is finalising the procurement of advanced cancer diagnostic equipment for the two institutions.
Following the installation of the equipment at Parirenyatwa and Mpilo hospitals, the programme is set to extend to Gweru Provincial Hospital and Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital in Mutare, before being rolled out to other hospitals across the country.
The cancer treatment programme is being implemented in three phases, namely the procurement of radiotherapy machines, the acquisition of diagnostic equipment and the rollout of treatment services to all provinces.
The development comes as Government continues investing in health infrastructure, equipment and specialist services aimed at improving healthcare delivery and health outcomes for Zimbabweans.
The acquisition of the cancer treatment machines is being funded through the sugar tax, introduced in 2024 and levied on beverage manufacturers, which is specifically earmarked to finance the purchase of cancer treatment equipment.
In an interview yesterday, Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube said the programme was progressing well.
“So far, we have managed to procure machines for both Parirenyatwa and Mpilo hospitals, which are major hospitals in the country,” Professor Ncube said.
“These are both high-energy and then low-energy machines for different types of cancers.
“We are also acquiring just simple diagnostic machines, and also machines for doing a simulation in terms of treatment. That procurement is in progress. These are the scanning machines, MRI scan machines, among others.”
Professor Ncube said the next phase would focus on decentralising cancer treatment services.
He added: “What needs to really then happen beyond those two stages is the rollout to the provinces. So that is the third phase.
“I think by the end of the year, we will have covered a few more hospitals beyond these two. Gweru Hospital, Victoria Chitepo Hospital in Mutare will also be covered. That is the plan, and we will keep growing those services. We will target provincial hospitals first, then we cascade to districts much later.”
Professor Ncube also said the decentralisation of cancer treatment services was being complemented by the hospital rehabilitation programme currently underway.
“We have a programme already for infrastructure upgrade that is infrastructure upgrade at Parirenyatwa and Mpilo,” he added. “Infrastructure upgrade in Mpilo. And this, again, in the next six months, you will see major progress in those two facilities.
“But then there are other facilities that are being built all around the country, be it health clinics, Lupane Provincial Hospital, among others. There is just so much else happening on the infrastructure.”
The ongoing works at the various hospitals are in line with President Mnangagwa’s pledge at the start of the Second Republic to prioritise the rehabilitation and modernisation of Zimbabwe’s public health infrastructure, starting with the flagship referral centre.
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