The Minister of Finance Professor Mthuli Ncube says the construction of Lupane Provincial Hospital will begin this month in a bid to improve the delivery of health services in the province.
Presenting the 2019 Mid-Year Budget Review on Thursday, Professor Ncube said the government is working hard to improve the health system in the country by constructing more rural health posts.
He said the government is also rehabilitating and upgrading health infrastructure in a bid to strengthen the referral health system.
Professor Ncube said the contractor intended to work on the construction for the Lupane Provincial Hospital, which would serve as the provincial hospital for Matabeleland North, will begin this month.
“Works on the construction of Lupane Provincial Hospital will soon commence, following approvals from the Procurement Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ), with the contractor expected on site in August 2019,” he said.
The provincial hospital has been in the pipeline for decades, with only a foundation having been built so far.
Last month the only referral hospital in Matabeleland North Province, St Luke’s Hospital was gutted down by fire, leaving patients around the vicinity stranded.
The Finance Minister also said the medical gas reticulation system in Mpilo and United Bulawayo Hospitals had been repaired.
“With regards to central hospitals, refurbishment works for the medical gas reticulation system, theatres and incinerators at Mpilo and United Bulawayo Hospitals have been completed,” said Professor Ncube.
He said at least ZWL$68million has been proposed by the Ministry of Health and Child Care in acquiring about 100 fully equipped ambulances.
“The Ministry of Health and Child Care has also completed the tendering process for procurement of ambulances,” said Professor Ncube.
“An amount of ZWL$68 million in additional funding is proposed to complete the procurement process that targets acquisition of 100 fully equipped ambulances.”
According to the latest Auditor General’s Report, Zimbabwean hospitals have been operating without enough ambulances to ferry patients as over half of its 282 fleet was down.
