BULAWAYO is not likely to have an additional public hospital as envisaged in government’s economic blueprint, Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (ZimAsset), as the city does not have a medical directorate to justify such a project, Southern Eye has learnt.
This means Harare will have two more district hospitals constructed under the programme because it has a medical directorate.
The directorate saves as a focal department for the Health ministry.
Congestion at major hospitals has often exerted pressure on resources and led to deterioration in service delivery.
According to the council’s latest monthly report, the Health and Child Care ministry recently wrote to the City of Bulawayo to submit a detailed project proposal justifying the need for new health facilities, but was quick to note that the city would not benefit from the scheme.
Part of the letter read: “Reference is made to our telephone conversation this afternoon (March 25 2015) in connection with the need to construct two district hospitals in the City of Bulawayo.
“In the ZimAsset, the ministry has plans to construct hospitals in the country’s major cities that is Harare and Bulawayo (implementation of ZimAsset 2013 to 2018).”
“The essence of having the district hospitals in the cities is to decongest patients who flood central hospitals. So far Harare has submitted its proposal. In view of the foregoing, may you please submit a project proposal justifying the need to construct two district hospitals in the City of Bulawayo.”
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The ministry added: “This information is urgently required by the Ministry of Finance for the purpose of sourcing funds for the projects from possible funders.
“It is pertinent to point out that the mandate for running district hospitals falls with provincial administrations. Bulawayo is in an unfortunate situation in that the Bulawayo Metropolitan Province does not have a medical directorate, therefore, without a focal department this proposal may not be submitted.
We, therefore, foresee Bulawayo not having district hospitals should the fundraising effort by Finance ministry be successful. This would be a great loss to the people of Bulawayo.”
