Zanu PF aspiring legislator for Tshabalala-Phelandaba Joseph Tshuma wants all government officials, including the President, to seek medical attention in Zimbabwe.The politician, angling to win the constituency in next month’s by-election, told a media conference on Wednesday that he would make that proposal once elected to Parliament.
The seat became vacant following the recall of Gift Siziba by CCC self-imposed interim secretary-general Sengezo Tshabangu.“I can dare you right now when I go to Parliament, my first speech and first proposal is to ban all ministers and even the President himself from going to seek medical treatment outside the country. I want them to know that when they fall sick, they must go to Mpilo or Parirenyatwa hospitals,” Tshuma said.
The aspiring lawmaker said the move would result in an improvement in Zimbabwe’s healthcare system.“No one should go outside the country, let’s all get treated here, that is how you get your country to be fixed, I am not being anti-Zanu PF by saying that we want a functional health system,’’ Tshuma said.
We have seen politicians and senior government officials seeking medical treatment abroad. In most of the cases, it is the taxpayer that picks up the bill.We need to invest in our healthcare system so that it serves its purpose. The prevailing situation in which clinics and hospitals do not have basic drugs such as paracetamol points to neglect.
Tshuma’s remarks come as the healthcare system has been neglected over the years through underfunding which is below benchmarks such as the Abuja declaration on heath which states that at least 15% of the budget should be allocated to health.
In its 2023 annual report, health rights group Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) said the 15% benchmark has remained elusive for Zimbabwe.“We wish to remind the government, that Zimbabwe has never achieved the 15% Abuja target since the declaration was signed in 2001, and to also point out that the target then 20 years ago, was to ensure at least 60% access to specific populations in the country to access selected maternal and child health services, AIDS, TB and malaria, diagnostic and treatment services which then were the most compelling health challenges,” CWGH executive director Itai Rusike said in the report.
“Corruption and misuse of resources remain endemic in the health sector, diverting the much-needed resources away from health care delivery and reducing patient access to services.
“Examples include medical staff who divert drugs and spend more time in private practice when they are supposed to be working in public hospitals.”The cholera outbreak has illustrated the dire situation of our health sector which was seriously exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Access to healthcare should be available to everyone and not for those with money. Zimbabwe has expertise in the health sector which has seen professionals doing operations such as the separation of conjoined twins.
However, funding has been the missing link.
