Govt awaits delivery of $381k essential drugs
GOVERNMENT is expecting the delivery of a consignment of essential drugs worth $381 000, which will augment drug supplies in the country, a Cabinet minister has said.
The drugs were bought using part of the $7,6 million Health Development Fund, which was released by Government in a bid to revive the health sector.
In an interview on the sidelines of an official handover of ambulances to Kwekwe City Council last week, Health and Child Care Minister, Dr David Parirenyatwa, said the drugs were part of programmes lined up by Government to enhance the delivery of services in the health sector.
“We have purchased drugs to the tune of $381 000 that are expected to bring relief to the health sector,” he said. “Government is pulling all stop to make sure that the health sector returns to normal.”
Dr Parirenyatwa said the new dispensation was committed to the revitalisation of the health sector and had released foreign currency for the purchase of drugs.
In addition to the drugs, Dr Parirenyatwa said plans were underway to bolster the availability of doctors countrywide for both Government and council centres.
“We intend to boost doctors’ at all medical centres across the country,” he said. “We are decentralising doctors in a way. You would find that at some centres there would be more doctors while at some there are no doctors at all. We are working tirelessly to ensure that every institution has a doctor.”
Dr Parirenyatwa said plans were at an advanced stage to begin compensating council clinics that offer free medical treatment to the elderly, children and pregnant women.
“We are now at an advanced stage of compensating the council clinics that offer free treatment to the selected group,” he said. “We have already engaged the Ministry of Local Government and compensation has already begun in places like Harare.”
The Health Levy proceeds, the minister said, would be used for the compensation.
“We continue reiterating that people aged 65 years and above, children aged 5 and below and pregnant women, should be treated for free,” he said. “We have heard some institution talking of card fee or consultation fee, the new dispensation is saying free medication to those people.”