Patients stranded as doctors and nurses shut clinics

By Tererai Karimakwenda
08 May, 2008

Zimbabwe’s capital is not a good place to become ill theses days. Many clinics are reported to have shut down as doctors and nurses fail to turn up for work saying they do not have enough money for bus fare. Our Harare correspondent Simon Muchemwa visited several primary care facilities and reports that patients were being turned away and referred to Parirenyatwa and Harare Hospitals. But these city hospitals have no staff either. Muchemwa said those who decided to go for private care were also shocked because private doctors have raised their fees from Z$100 000 up to Z$300 000 and even Z$ 1 million.

According to Muchemwa, some hospital staff are so desperate they have resorted to taking supplies like gloves and cotton wool and selling them for cash to help pay their transport fees and other basic necessities. Doctors and nurses at the large hospitals are not on strike, but many are simply not showing up due to a lack of funds.

Muchemwa visited one radiology department in Harare where he said patients were being asked to pay cash in advance but were not given receipts. He believes the money is not going to the hospital but to the staff who need bus fare.

Muchemwa said he was distressed at the sight of pregnant women being turned away from the clinics. The majority cannot afford the new increased consultation fees at private hospitals.