New Zimbabwe hospital equipment not fit for purpose say senior doctors

Senior doctors at Zimbabwe’s public hospitals have condemned a recent government purchase of medical equipment - worth US$500,000 - as largely unfit for purpose. 

The indictment was given on Tuesday, during testimony by the Senior Doctors Association to an evidence session of the Parliamentary Health Portfolio Committee.

“Some of the equipment has been deemed unfit for our environment, such as the theatre tables and anesthetic machines. However, the equipment awaits commissioning," senior physician Shingai Nyaguse said. 

The defunct equipment was purchased from an Indian supplier last year, despite a comprehensive briefing by doctors to government of the equipment needed for hospitals. 

Dr Nyaguse said in his testimony that “A group of five senior doctors representing the five clinical divisions that is, medicine, surgery anesthesia, pediatricians, and psychiatry were given the mandate to generate a list of equipment needed to immediately bring the health sector to normal function”.

He added that the specialists’ recommendations had largely been ignored. 

Photo: AFP via Getty Images