Zimbabwe dropped $5.3 million as a down payment on new cancer machines funded by sugar tax revenue, and the equipment will land at Parirenyatwa in Harare, plus Mpilo in Bulawayo, after factory inspections happen next month. Health Minister Douglas Mombeshora says the gear is already getting built, and teams will fly out to check everything before shipment. The older radiotherapy units getting replaced are still functional, so they will get moved to Gweru and either Masvingo or Chinhoyi to create two additional treatment centers across the country.
The expansion means patients outside major cities can finally access radiation therapy without traveling hundreds of kilometers or dropping thousands of dollars at private clinics. The $30 million procurement covers MRI scanners, infusion pumps, vital sign monitors, and blood gas analyzers that will get distributed across five hospitals. Private treatment currently costs between $5,000 and $10,000 per radiation course, which puts it out of reach for most people who need multiple rounds.
The expansion means patients outside major cities can finally access radiation therapy without traveling hundreds of kilometers or dropping thousands of dollars at private clinics. The $30 million procurement covers MRI scanners, infusion pumps, vital sign monitors, and blood gas analyzers that will get distributed across five hospitals. Private treatment currently costs between $5,000 and $10,000 per radiation course, which puts it out of reach for most people who need multiple rounds.
