THE deal forged by Mpilo Central Hospital and the National University of Science and Technology with a group of Indian hospitals that will see specialists from that country working in Zimbabwe is a welcome development.
Mpilo chief executive officer Lawrence Mantiziba said that under the arrangement, the three Indian Consortium Hospitals (Artemris, Fortis and Madanta) who operate under the flagship of Global Medi Consortiums would provide a range of specialist services “from diagnostic to the most complex transplants”
He said specialist doctors would be seconded to Mpilo, a referral hospital for the southern region of Zimbabwe.
Mantiziba said the arrangement would enable the hospital to carry out “most complex transplant surgeries”.
Currently, Zimbabweans have to spend thousands of dollars travelling to India seeking cheap specialist treatment that is either not available or too expensive at home.
The deal that Mpilo signed would ensure that those services are brought closer home.
What is more encouraging about the arrangement are the prospects of Mpilo being revived to its former glory.
Conditions at the hospital had deteriorated over the years due to the brain drain affecting the health sector and reduced government funding.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Unlike other hospitals that continue to deteriorate, Mpilo under Mantiziba has been doing everything possible to think outside the box.
The Indian deal is one such outcome of the hard work the team at the hospital is putting to turn its fortunes around.
It comes at a time when Mpilo is finalising plans for a donor conference where it expects to raise $15 million for rehabilitation.
Funds raised during the donor conference would be channelled towards hospital infrastructure, plant and equipment rehabilitation.
Once again Mpilo has shown the way that waiting for Treasury to finance rehabilitation of crumbling infrastructure is futile.
Mpilo is on the way to regaining its status as a prime hospital in Southern Africa.
