By Fanuel Chinowaita
Mutare – Patients requiring surgery for broken limbs at government hospitals are struggling to receive timely treatment due to a shortage of intramedullary nails, a crucial surgical implant for bone fractures. Dr. Hillary Makiwa, an official at Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital, confirmed the crisis, stating that the government does not supply the implants due to high costs.
“There are no intramedullary nails in any government hospital. Patients are required to buy them from private pharmacies, where they cost around $350. The government cannot afford to supply them in every hospital,” said Dr. Makiwa.
He added that NatPharm, the national pharmaceutical supplier for public hospitals, does not provide these implants.
This revelation comes in response to growing complaints from patients, some of whom have reportedly remained untreated since last year. The lack of necessary surgical equipment has forced many to either endure long waits or seek expensive private healthcare.
Adding to the crisis, Dr. Makiwa explained that Victoria Chitepo Hospital, the largest referral hospital in Manicaland, has only one functional operating theatre, which is used for public patients on Thursdays and only 4 or 5 operations are operated per week. This means that those requiring urgent surgery often face prolonged delays unless they can afford private care.
“When people are admitted, they are treated in order of arrival. Unfortunately, it takes time because we only have one theatre, and it operates for public patients once a week. However, private doctors and specialists use the theatre on weekends, so if you see someone being treated on a Saturday or Sunday, that person was operated on privately,” Dr. Makiwa stated.
The situation has sparked outrage among patients and their families, who feel abandoned by the public healthcare system. While Dr. Makiwa did not deny that some patients have remained unattended for months, he emphasized that this is a national crisis requiring government intervention.
“This is a national issue, and it should be addressed at the national level,” he said.
The shortage of surgical equipment and the limited availability of theatre time in government hospitals highlight the broader challenges facing Zimbabwe’s public health sector. As more patients turn to private healthcare out of desperation, the gap between those who can afford treatment and those who cannot continues to widen.